ISLAMABAD, JUN 4 /DNA/ – Swiss Ambassador to Pakistan, George Steiner, commended the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for its outstanding service during natural disasters and crises.

He emphasized that while all countries have been affected by climate change, Pakistan has suffered particularly severe impacts.

By aiding flood-affected families, PRCS has honored its mandate and fulfilled its duty to humanity. Ambassador Steiner expressed these sentiments during a meeting with PRCS Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmad Laghari who visited the Swiss Embassy on Tuesday.

The meeting addressed various subjects such as Pak-Swiss relations, mutual cooperation, and the urgent humanitarian challenges brought about by climate change.

Ambassador Steiner noted that Pakistan ranks seventh on the climate risk index, which is extremely concerning, and emphasized the need for active participation and stringent measures to combat global warming.

He commended Chairman Laghari for his efforts to modernize the PRCS and enhance diplomatic relations. Additionally, he acknowledged the significant actions taken by PRCS under Laghari’s leadership, highlighting the ongoing and future initiatives dedicated to serving humanity.

Furthermore, Ambassador Steiner assured new avenues of support for PRCS. The meeting concluded with both parties exchanging commemorative souvenirs, marking the occasion as a step forward in fostering deeper collaboration between Pakistan and Switzerland.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) summons issued to party leaders as the body probes Imran Khan’s X post on the 1971 war.

In the petition, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, and Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan alleged that the government and its allies were targeting the party through a “pre-planned attack”.

A post on X, formerly Twitter, was attributed to the former prime minister, which read: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

The post drew flak from government members and other politicians, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that Khan’s true face was finally in front of the nation, implying that he wanted to divide the country.

In response, the party said the PTI founder had nothing to do with the post since he was in jail. Later, a leader said everything was posted with Khan’s approval, opening a new Pandora’s box.

However, the party later owned the post and said it was uploaded to inform the public about past mistakes as it was crucial to learn from them so they aren’t repeated. The FIA then issued notices to the party leaders.

In the petition filed today, the PTI leader said: “…in the garb of the alleged tweet, the FIA is hell-bent on making another case against Imran Khan, workers of PTI and its leadership.”

The notices issued to the leaders, the plea said, are void, illegal, without jurisdiction, and malafide, having been issued without lawful authority, and are liable to be set aside.

The plea said that the contents of the notices — issued on May 30 — are vague and the purpose of the notice, the information sought, and its connection with the complaint has not been explained.

They mentioned that “it is well established” that the right to a fair trial includes the right to a fair investigation. In this case, however, it said, it is clear from the complaint and surrounding circumstances and the notice that the petitioners would not be treated in accordance with the law and would also be denied a fair investigation.

They added that in the case, it appears that the complainant, namely Anees Ur Rehman, technical assistant FIA, CCRC, made the alleged complaint without “approval of the federal government and under a dictation”.

The plea said that Rehman is neither personally aggrieved nor is there any reference to any previous approval with regard to the alleged commission of offence granted by any authority or institution.

The plea said that the FIA’s decision to initiate an inquiry regarding the misuse of the X account is tainted with “malice” in a bid to “victimi[s]e, oppress, and target the workers and leadership of PTI” with a view to causing irreparable damage to the party.

“The petitioners have already explained their and party’s position on TV shows and they have nothing to do with the said tweet and it is worth mentioning. The impugned notice is ex-facie illegal and malafide.”

APNS building bridges between media outlets of both countries

KARACHI, JUN 3 /DNA/ – Not many Pakistanis have visited China to this day, but we are working and remain hopeful to create more opportunities so our friends from Pakistan can visit China said Yang Yundong Consul General of the People’s Republic of China. He was hosting office bearers of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society at the Consulate.

”Today we are happy to host you all friends at the Consulate for an authentic Chinese dinner, and my heartiest greetings to Mr. Sarmad Ali on becoming Senator. We would like Pakistanis to visit China but unfortunately not many Pakistanis have visited China, he stated. We acknowledge Pakistan’s support to China in all forums. It is because of the significance of our friendship. China is developing very fast, and the change is many a times a pleasant surprise for even Chinese working abroad when they travel back home” said CG Yang He further added that our focus must be on more exchanges between the media outlets of both countries and APNS can play a role in bringing them together.

The Second Phase of CPEC is more important and will focus on agriculture, industrial cooperation and trade for increasing exports from Pakistan and benefiting the lives of people at grassroot level.

The delegation of APNS was led by its Secretary General, Senator Sarmad Ali. While expressing his views, Mr Sarmad said that Pakistan is expecting to see investment in agriculture, mining, hospitality & tourism as well as other sectors from China.

”Gwadar needs to be developed as a model urban town and the new airport will provide more opportunities in increasing connectivity. Proper real estate development along with hotels is also needed in Gwadar. Chinese media outlets have their offices in Islamabad including ‘People’s Daily’, ‘Xinhua News Agency’, Guangming Daily.

Mr. Sarmad Ali said, China has been a true friend in need for Pakistan. ”Chinese people have a special place for Pakistan in their heart and they call us Iron Brother ‘Batie’. “During my visits to China I have seen even the common people refer to Pakistanis as their Iron brothers. As China is now the biggest manufacturer of EV vehicles, it is progressing rapidly in cutting edge technology. We hope that China’s advancement in EV technology will benefit Pakistan as well. The second phase of CPEC will play a pivotal role in furthering Pakistan’s exports and trade.

The dinner was also attended by Deputy Consul General Mr. Zhang Hao, APNS Finance Secretary Mr. Shahab Zuberi, Kazi Asad Abid, Mr. Javed Mehr Shamsi, Mr.Younus Mehar, Mr. Athar Kazi, Kazi Sajjad Abassi, and Mr. Bilal Farooqui. Also Zahid H. Karani, Mustafa Karani, Yousuf Karani, and officials from the Consulate were present.

The APNS delegation thanked Mr. Yang Yundong and his colleagues for their hospitality and a love filled authentic Chinese cuisine.

PTI thanks God for Imran Khan, Qureshi’s acquittal in cipher case

PTI Spokesperson urges court to swiftly dispose of all cases to ensure Khan’s, others’ prompt release

ISLAMABAD, JUN 3 /DNA/ – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed gratitude to Allah for the acquittal of its Founding Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the fabricated cipher case, requesting the court to expedite the hearing of all their remaining concocted and fake cases so as to ensure the prompt release of all unjustly imprisoned PTI leaders and workers, including the Founding Chairman and Vice Chairman.

PTI Spokesperson, in his reaction to the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) verdict declaring Imran Khan and Qureshi’s conviction in the infamous cipher case void, said that Imran Khan and his companion, who were unjustly imprisoned in Adiala jail, were a living metaphor of determination, courage, political maturity and character.

He stated that with the blessings of Allah and the prayers of the nation, especially mothers, sisters and daughters, all the false, fake, fabricated, baseless and absurd cases were briskly crumbling one after another like sand wall.

Praising PTI Founding Chairman for his courage, PTI Spokesperson made it clear that Imran Khan was standing on his stated and principled position like a rock instead of bowing down to the worst political revenge and bare lawlessness and looking for escape route from the country under the guise of an illness or hiding behind a humiliating and shameful NRO.

He stated that first, the state’s false narrative about Toshakhana case evaporated into thin air and today by the grace of Allah, two years of hard work and efforts of Jungle Raj in the cipher case were swept away into the sewerage system of the federal capital.

PTI Spokesperson said that even in bogus and fake Iddat case, PTI Founding Chairman and his honorable wife would have been vindicated if the trial court judge had not been prevented from pronouncing the verdict and the case had not been transferred to a new judge.

He expressed optimism that the outcome of all 203 cases against the PTI Founding Chairman would be similar to the cipher case, with all of them eventually being dismissed and relegated to the dustbin.

PTI Spokesperson stated that Imran Khan freed the country’s politics from the clutches of tyranny of non-political orbits and unconstitutional gifts by demanding justice for himself from the justice system that is in the grip of jungle rule and recognizing the people and only the people as the decisive force of the country. Justice

PTI Spokesperson expressed hope that the dark night of tyranny and repression would end soon and the bright morning of justice, constitution, law, democracy and public rule would dawn.

He requested that judiciary should quickly dispose of the false, fabricated and politically motivated cases against all the political prisoners including PTI Founding Chairman and Vice Chairman to ensure their earliest release from unlawful incarceration.

CM also accused the centre of ‘not’ providing due share to the KP government

Shamim Shahid

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday announced to provide free solar panels to the people of the province.

Addressing the provincial assembly, the chief minister said that the government would go with solar power and all official buildings and offices would be shifted to solar power in the first phase.

He said that the provincial government would provide free solar panels to the people. “People pay taxes so that they get benefits. The rulers should stop lavishing money on public money. We will cut 20 percent fuel allowance (for the elite) very soon,” the chief minister said.

CM Gandapur also accused the centre of ‘not’ providing due share to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

He said that the federal government has not provided the remaining Rs 100 billion for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), adding that if the dues are not released immediately, the provincial government will take action.

CM Gandapur said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been making sacrifices since the creation of Pakistan, but their promises have ‘not’ been fulfilled.

He said that the federal government did not respond to his letters and demands. “If the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not get their due rights, they will be compelled to take to the streets,” he added.

The chief minister said that peace and security cannot be established in the province if the federal government does not provide the necessary funds.

It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab and Sindh governments had already announced to give solar panels to the people of their respective provinces.

The Sindh government on May 29 announced to provide affordable electricity to over 200,000 households in the province.

Syed Murad Ali Shah-led Sindh government in collaboration with the World Bank will provide a complete solar system to each household for Rs. 7,000.

The director Sindh Solar Energy Project said that the system will include the installation of solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries in each household.

He said that each of the households would be charged for just Rs. 7,000 for the complete set-up. The director Sindh Solar Energy Project said that one fan and three LED bulbs can be lit from the system provided under the project.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz okayed the provision of a 1Kv Solar system to 50,000 families in the province.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz to review energy projects in the province.

The 1kv Solar system will be provided to the protected power consumers who are using under 100 electricity units per month. Two solar plates, batteries, inverter and wires would be provided to the families eligible under the project.

DNA

SARGODHA: A Christian man who became a target of an angry mob in Punjab’s Sargodha district over alleged blasphemy succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning, police officials said.

According to the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sharik Kamal Siddiqui’s spokesperson, Nazir Masih, who was over 70 years old, was under treatment in CMH Hospital in Rawalpindi for nine days.

Masih also had two surgeries but he couldn’t survive the injuries inflicted on his head, said the spokesperson. His postmortem has been conducted and he will be buried later today.

According to the report, Masih died due to severe injuries to his head, said the hospital sources.

The incident took place on May 25 in Sargodha after an angry mob tortured Masih for alleged blasphemy.

The situation turned violent when enraged people attacked the victim’s house in the Mujahid Colony area, damaging his belongings and torching a shoe factory established within it. They also burnt tyres and damaged electricity installations in the area.

Following the incident, at least 25 people were taken into custody by the police who also shifted the victim and his family to an undisclosed location after rescuing them.

Sargodha Division Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti pledged that those involved in the incident would be brought to justice after holding a transparent inquiry into the incident.