ISLAMABAD, SEPT 9: /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, earlier tonight.

The Prime Minister strongly condemned the unlawful and heinous bombing in Doha by Israeli forces today, that resulted in the loss of precious lives and damage to civilian property. He conveyed his deepest sympathies and expressed solidarity with His Highness the Amir, the Qatari Royal Family, as well as with the people of Qatar.

The Prime Minister termed Israel’s attack as a dastardly act, that showed the mindset of its leaders, who were willing to go to any length in the blind pursuit of their nefarious goals. He called the Israeli aggression a brazen violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, that posed a most dangerous provocation and could imperil regional peace and stability.
The Prime Minister assured His Highness that Pakistan stood like a rock with the State of Qatar, against Israel’s aggression and called for unity within the ranks of the Ummah at this critical time.

While thanking the Prime Minister for his telephone call as well as for the sincere expression of solidarity with the people of Qatar at this challenging moment, His Highness the Amir said that he was deeply touched by this thoughtful gesture shown by the Prime Minister, that reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar.
Both leaders agreed to remain in contact in the interest of regional peace and security.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 9: /DNA/ – The Minister of National Defence of Turkiye, Mr. Yasar Güler, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan as co-chair of the Pakistan-Turkiye Joint Ministerial Commission, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House, this evening. 

While warmly welcoming the Turkish Defence Minister and members of his delegation, the Prime Minister underscored the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, that are deeply rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect. He expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed Pakistan’s…

SARGODHA, SEP 09 (APP): A book exhibition titled ’Seerat e Tayyaba’ was held at Government Graduate Girls College Chandni Chowk here on Tuesday.

The students and teachers participated in the exhibition and expressed their great  interest in the exhibition.

Principal Prof Dr Safana Masood appreciated student’s creative work and termed it very  imperative for educational activities.

In the exhibition, Islamic calligraphy artworks made by the students were also displayed.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 09 (DNA) —   The federal government has decided to provide relief in electricity bills for the people in flood-affected areas, with multiple tax waivers under consideration.  Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, speaking to media news, said that taxes on the electricity bills of flood-hit households would be waived immediately. He added that while the federal government would provide relief on electricity charges, the provincial governments would take steps to waive land revenue.

He noted that the authorities would also take notice of inflated bills issued in flood-affected areas, explaining that many bills had already been printed before the devastation. The minister emphasised that every possible step would be taken to ease the burden on affected citizens. Rana Tanveer said that once surveys of flood-affected regions are completed, the government will announce a farmers’ package.

He explained that the survey is expected to be finished by the middle of this month and that preliminary data on crop losses has already been compiled. According to the minister, between 1% and 3% of every crop has been damaged by the floods, with the Gujranwala division suffering the most severe blow, up to 18% of crops destroyed. He added that rice fields had taken the heaviest damage overall.

 Sources said the proposals include abolition of the general sales tax, the Financing Cost (FC) surcharge and fixed charges on electricity bills.  The government is also weighing the removal of sales tax and excise duty on fuel price adjustment, alongside eliminating income tax, additional and surplus taxes, and retailer sales tax from the bills.

 The proposal comes as the country reels from its second catastrophic monsoon flooding in three years.  Since late June, over 900 people have died, more than 1,400 villages have been inundated in Punjab, and over one million residents have been displaced, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). — DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 9 – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday acquitted PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi while sentencing Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and others to 10 years in prison over a May 9 riots case related to violence at Rahat Bakery Chowk.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul issued the verdict in the case of burning of a Supreme Court judge’s car at Rahat Bakery Chowk on May 9, 2023. The hearing was held in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore.

Similarly, PTI leaders Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed and Umar Sarfraz Cheema were also awarded 10 years’ imprisonment each.

The court also awarded a five-year sentence to PTI leader Khadija Shah in the same case. However, Rubina Jameel and Afshan Tariq were acquitted.

The development adds to the mounting legal woes faced by the Imran Khan-founded PTI, which has seen scores of leaders getting prison sentences over the May 9 riots while several others, including the former prime minister, remain behind bars in a plethora of cases.

Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified a number of PTI lawmakers, including the opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly — Senator Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan — following their convictions in the May 9 cases.

The disqualification came days after a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others to 10 years in prison each in connection with a case registered in the aftermath of the May 9, 2023, violence at the Civil Lines Police Station.

May 9 riots
Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan stormed public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in protest against the former premier’s arrest.

The riots erupted after the PTI founder was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.

During the unrest, the supporters of Khan — the only prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted via a no-confidence vote — targeted civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many remain behind bars.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 9: /DNA/ – The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan issued a strong condemnation today following an Israeli military bombing on a residential area in Doha, Qatar.

On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, the statement vehemently denounced the heinous attack, which targeted a civilian area and endangered the lives of innocent people. It expressed the nation’s deepest sympathies and unwavering solidarity with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, the Qatari Royal Family, and the people of the State of Qatar.

The official statement characterized the act as “totally unjustified” and a “brazen violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar.” It further warned that such aggression represents a “most dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability.”

Reaffirming its steadfast position, Pakistan declared its firm stand with the State of Qatar and reiterated its continued support for the people of Palestine against Israeli aggression.

BAKU, SEPT 9: /DNA/ – Pakistan and Azerbaijan have agreed to promote bilateral trade, enhance investment, establish long-term business relations, set up permanent product display centers in Baku and Islamabad, and organize joint business-to-business (B2B) sessions.

This commitment was expressed during a high-level meeting between the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Azerbaijan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (APJCCI) held in Baku. The Pakistani delegation was led by APJCCI Patron-in-Chief Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, while AZPROMO’s Deputy Executive Director Tural Hajili welcomed the guests.

Tural Hajili emphasized that promoting exports and attracting investment are the core objectives of his organization, and the establishment of APJCCI is a milestone in structured cooperation between the private sectors of both countries. He underlined that the current trade volume is below its real potential, but closer collaboration and B2B linkages can unlock vast opportunities.

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari stated that Pakistan is an attractive market for Azerbaijani products, particularly food and cosmetics, while fertilizers can be imported from Azerbaijan to Pakistan. He announced that APJCCI will organize an Azerbaijan-Pakistan Business Forum, hold single-country exhibitions, and work towards establishing permanent product display centers in both Baku and Islamabad.

He further noted that both governments have set a target of USD 2 billion in bilateral trade, and it is the responsibility of the private sector to play its role in achieving this goal through sector-specific partnerships.

It was also agreed during the meeting that a business delegation from Azerbaijan will visit Pakistan early next year to inject new momentum into bilateral trade and investment initiatives.