PML N, PPP and JUI hopeful of consensus

DNA

LAHORE: The leadership of PML-N, PPP, and JUI met in Lahore to resolve their differences over proposed Constitutional amendments. Sources close to the discussions indicate that the parties are nearing a consensus and are expected to present a unified draft soon.

According to these sources, PML-N has agreed to the proposal of establishing Constitutional benches within the provincial high courts. However, the party remains opposed to the idea of creating a dedicated Constitutional Court.

However, the plan is to create a ‘court within court’ in the Supreme Court by creating a special bench of five or more judges to head the Constitutional bench. According to the plan the the judicial commission shall decide the formation of this bench, which may include any judge. Even the commission shall nominate head of the bench, which may not be the incumbent chief justice of the Supreme Court.

During an October 15 press conference, both Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hinted at progress on the draft but refrained from disclosing any specific details about the agreement. Meanwhile, JUI continues to view the proposal for Constitutional courts as unnecessary.

Nearly 40 contestants have been included in the coveted list without much-hyped former prime minister

LONDON: Oxford University has not included former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan’s name in the list of candidates to run for the position of the varsity’s chancellor.

 “More than 40 people applied and only 38 were approved. The candidates were only excluded according to the exclusion criteria of the university. 26,000 people have registered to vote in this election. Khan has been disqualified to run in the election over several factors including his conviction and political role.” The prominent names wanting to become the next Chancellor were Lord William Hague, Lady Elish Angiolini, Lord Peter Mandelson, Khan, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford and Dominic Grieve but only Khan has been disqualified from the top five well-known figures.

The source didn’t elaborate further but Geo News had reported exclusively on Tuesday that a King’s Counsel at UK’s leading law firm Matrix Chambers has opined that former prime minister Khan is not eligible for Oxford Chancellorship according to the university’s own regulations. Hugh Southey, King’s Counsel at Matrix Chambers in London said: “In my opinion, Khan is unlikely to be eligible to be a candidate in light of one of his criminal convictions.”

Nearly 40 candidates have been included in the list as those candidates whose candidacy has been approved — and many names appear to be of Pakistani origin.

DNA

LAHORE, OCT 16: PTI using social media to spread anarchy about Lahore’s alleged rape, says chief minister. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on those spreading fake news that a girl had been allegedly raped at a private college in Lahore.

Since the beginning of the week, students have staged protests in multiple cities of the country’s largest province, demanding that alleged culprits of the claimed crime be brought to justice.

During a press conference, the provincial chief executive said that a crackdown should be launched “regardless of whether they belong to the PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] or Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s Q-League”.

She also blamed the former ruling party for spreading fake news and spreading anarchy to damage the state, especially at a time when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit was underway.

“I call them [PTI] a terrorist organisation for some reason. Who will compensate for the loss that the child and her family suffered as a result of her name being used to spark unrest,” she said, slamming the Imran Khan-founded PTI.

Maryam said an attempt was made to run a campaign in Punjab by misleading the students on the basis of lies, adding that a very “vile and dangerous plan was made” after the failure of protest, siege, and anarchy.

“I know very well who is behind this incident and will not leave anyone who was involved in this,” she stressed. 

A high-level committee, formed by the Punjab government, has also stated in its report that the girl had not been raped and that she sustained injuries at her home.

The police registered a first information report (FIR) at the Defence A Police Station against the spread of misinformation and unverified news on social media.

She said that the authorities were still looking for the victim to date and added that the girl whose name was being taken as an alleged rape victim was undergoing treatment in the hospital since October 2 and the accused guard was on vacation.

CM Maryam added that the incident was reported on October 10, but the girl was not present at her college on the said day.

“…it was claimed that the CCTV footage of the incident had been deleted. First, a false story was created and then a search was started for the victim. There were no eyewitnesses as the incident did not happen.”

Moving on, the chief minister said that she had told the education minister that he should not suspend the registration of the college. “No injustice should be done to anyone, whoever is involved in this incident will not be spared.”

Maryam’s presser comes after social media was flooded with public outcry over the alleged rape incident, with the matter going viral across various platforms with photographs of some female students also being widely shared.

The matter surfaced on the internet after students of a private college took to streets on Monday to protest against the alleged rape. The demonstration turned violent after dozens of the protestors were injured in violent clashes with protesters and law enforcers. The protests also continued on Tuesday and Wednesday in difference cities of the province.

According to the FIR, the news of the alleged rape of the student went viral on social media. It added that various students were asked to confirm the incident, while the concerned girl and her parents completely denied its occurrence.

KARACHI, OCT 16 (DNA) —”Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid on Wednesday visited the BISP’s Benazir Nashonuma Centre at Pir Ilahi Bux Colony here.

Speaking about the objective of her visit, she said that the purpose is to inspect the standard of the facilities and services being provided at the Center. She also lauded the Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho and said the contribution of Dr. Azra in the health sector is outstanding.

She said that growth stunting is a serious challenge and if is not addressed in the two years, it become irreversible and that is the reason behind launching of Benazir Nashonuma program under the BISP.

Our beneficiaries under this program are being provided cash as well as food supplement to improve health of mothers and children, she added. Senator Rubina Khalid said that around 9.3 million current beneficiaries of the BISP are expected to cross 10 million by the 2025.

 The BISP was the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to help the people below the poverty line. This program provides assistance to the women and also helps them get identity, she added. She said that the process of registration under the BISP is continuing and a large number of women are being registered under it.

She said that we also moving toward skill development program and the children of our beneficiaries would also be provided skills training to help them get employment. Senator Rubina Khalid said that Benazir Nashonuma Centre meant to address the issues of stunting growth of children which helps the woman throughout pregnancy period and up-to two years of age of the child.

She said that awareness activities about the Benazir Nashonuma Centre are also being conducted. She told a questioner that around 38 Benazir Nashonuma Centres are operational in Karachi and 140 across Sindh.

Senator Rubina Khalid said that we are going to increase the cash transfer under the BISP from Rs 10500 to 13500 from the 2025. Likewise the Taleemi Wazaif would also be revised, she added. The meetings were also held with the State Bank of Pakistan to end human intervention from the cash transfer process under the BISP, so that the beneficiaries be paid cash with respect directly in their accounts she added.

Earlier, the Chairperson BISP visited different sections of the BISP’s Benazir Nashonuma Centre at Pir Ilahi Bux Colony here. —DNA

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16 (DNA) —”President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the sessions of the National Assembly and Senate to be held separately on October 17.

The president has summoned the session of National Assembly on October 17 (Thursday) at 4:00 pm, while that of Senate on October 17 (Thursday) at 3:00 pm, the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on Wednesday.

President Zardari has summoned the sessions of both Houses of Parliament under Article 54 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. —DNA

ISLAMABAD: Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and the government for the “hospitality and courtesies” during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit hosted by Islamabad.

Jaishankar, who attended the SCO moot held in Islamabad, was the first foreign minister of the neighbouring nation to visit Pakistan in nearly a decade.

Hours after the conclusion of the two-day regional huddle, Jaishankar wrote on his X handle: “Departing from Islamabad. Thank PM @CMShehbaz , DPM & FM @MIshaqDar50 and the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality and courtesies.”

Indias Jaishankar hails Pakistans hospitality, courtesies during SCO summit
In another X post, he said that a productive meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government concluded in Islamabad today.

“Signed eight outcome documents. India made a positive and constructive contribution to the deliberations.”

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16 /DNA/ – President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nasir Mansoor Qureshi has termed the successful hosting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit  a matter of immense pride for Pakistan which provided it a distinctive platform to strengthen its journey  economic growth and regional integration. Similarly, it served as a platform for advancing cooperation in technology, especially in areas like digital transformation, cyber security, and e-commerce.

He also commended the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for highlighting the significance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for the growth of trade and development among all the stakeholders as well as exercising the collective wisdom for fostering progress and prosperity for the shared community.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday Qureshi congratulated the Prime Minister and his entire team for the hard work for the Summit which manifested the collective voice and wishes of over 40 percent of the world population. He said that SCO remained the beacon of stability and development for the mutual benefit of the people in the region. He appreciated that the participants acknowledged the importance of developing  ports, logistics and railway infrastructure, scientific and technological innovations, the development of multi- and intermodal transport, modern logistics centres and human resources, digitalization,  ensuring safety, including environmental initiatives, in railway transport, as well as the development of Interconnectivity and Creation of Efficient Transport Corridors , development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises is important to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, which will serve  as impetus  for the economic development of the member states as well as the other countries.

He expressed the hope that all the member states will wholeheartedly collaborate to address the shared challenges and work hand-in-hand for promoting cross-border infrastructure projects, expanding transport networks, and streamlining customs procedures to enhance connectivity which in turn will ultimately prove a driving force  for the growth of worst affected businesses and trade. Pakistan, with its burgeoning IT sector and thriving startup ecosystem, can play a pivotal role in driving this collaboration, he added.  The region’s vast energy resources, including Central Asia’s and Russia’s oil and gas reserves, present valuable opportunities for energy cooperation, he further said. cooperation in overcoming poverty and increasing the well-being of the population

ICCI President went on to say that now Pakistan has to focus on creating an integrated regional economic zone, which would not only boost trade but also strengthen people-to-people links, cultural exchanges, and tourism among SCO member states, adding that Pakistan’s agricultural sector holds tremendous potential for collaboration with Central Asian countries, which have a growing demand for agricultural products and could benefit from Pakistan’s expertise in farming technology.

He also congratulated the Russian leadership on assuming the chairmanship of the Council and holding the next CHG meeting in Russia next year.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday told the leaders of the SCO countries that the international community should fulfill its responsibility of ensuring an unconditional and immediate ceasefire leading to the establishment of an independent state of Palestine.

“Let me say that we cannot ignore the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The international community bears the responsibility of ensuring an immediate and unconditional ceasefire leading to the establishment of State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al Quds as its capital,” the prime minister said in his concluding remarks at the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) chaired by him.

The prime minister said that the SCO meeting highlighted the commitment of the member states for a better and sustainable future for the next generations.

He congratulated Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on assuming the chairmanship of the Council and announced that the next CHG meeting would be held in Russia next year.

The prime minister also assured the Russian prime minister of Pakistan’s fullest support and reiterated unwavering commitment to SCO goals and objectives.

He urged the member states to prioritise the collaboration over the political differences and collaborate to address the shared challenges and work hand-in-hand to ensure that SCO remained the beacon of stability and development for the mutual benefit for the people in the region.

Before concluding the two-day meeting, he also thanked the participating countries for their commitment and support to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting.

The event was attended by the leaders from the SCO member states including China’s Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of Ministers’ Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, Trade Minister of Iran Seyyed Mohammad Atabek, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Besides, Mongolia is participating in the summit as an Observer State being represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan as a Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.

Among other dignitaries attending the moot include SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Director of Executive Committee SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzayev, Chairman of the Board of SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Shaikh and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Union Marat Yelibayev.