LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi have decided to further strengthen the alliance between the PML-Q and the PTI and jointly take part in upcoming local government elections. Mr Elahi and Federal Minister for Water Resources Chaudhry Moonis Elahi called on Mr Buzdar at the CM Office on Monday where the former, who is also PML-Q Punjab president, vowed to jointly work for providing relief to the masses and emphasised that the alliance between both the parties was moving forward with sincerity. He said the consultation would continue to choose joint candidates for local…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: Though violence-related casualties in Pakistan declined at a steady rate since 2015, remained somewhat unchanged in 2020 but seemed to have accelerated dramatically last year. With an increase of roughly 42pc in 2021, Pakistan suffered 853 fatalities (up from 600 last year) and 1,690 injuries directly linked to violence-related incidents. Nearly 75pc of all violence-related fatalities were recorded in KP including erstwhile Fata and Balochistan. Of the total fatalities, Punjab accounted for 8pc followed by Sindh. Compared to the fatalities in 2020, all regions except Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan suffered an exponential surge in violence with Balochistan accounting for a…
LAHORE: After a pause of around a decade, the first freight train between Istanbul and Islamabad via Tehran reached Ankara via Lahore, Taftan and Zahedan on Monday, completing its 17-day journey in 13 days. A second train is already on its way to Turkey. “The first train that departed on Dec 21 from Islamabad carrying goods (mainly pink salt) reached Ankara (Turkey) on Monday evening. Before reaching its destination, the goods loaded onto the train were shifted to other bogies (trans-shipment) compatible with the Iranian and Turkish rail/gauge system,” Pakistan Railways Director (Operations) Imtiaz Ahmad told Dawn. “The train consisted of…
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed warned on Monday that the apex court would not hesitate to summon Prime Minister Imran Khan if Arif Gull, detained at an internment centre in Kohat since 2019, was not produced before it on Tuesday (today). “Should we seal the courts if Arif Gull cannot be produced,” the CJP asked. Justice Gulzar headed a three-judge Supreme Court bench that had taken up a habeas corpus petition moved by a relative of Arif Gull seeking information about his whereabouts. Last week, the Supreme Court had ordered production of the internee on Monday.…
LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned another former chief, Saud Mirza, for Tuesday (today) in the investigation into cases against a Pakistani fugitive abroad for his alleged involvement in transnational financial crimes and money laundering. Former FIA director general (DG) Bashir Memon has already appeared before an inquiry team for allegedly facilitating the fugitive, Umar Farooq Zahoor, who has been required by Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Pakistan since 2009-10 in various financial and other crimes. In a call-up notice to Saud Mirza, the agency said the current investigation by the FIA Lahore revealed that the suspect, instead of being investigated…
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday set aside an order of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad Adnan and issued a notice to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking his response in a defamation case against Khawaja Asif over the PML-N leader’s allegations about misappropriation of funds of Shaukat Khanam Memorial Trust (SKMT). The premier had filed the defamation suit against Asif in 2012 for recovery of Rs10 billion as the latter had at a press conference levelled allegations about misappropriation of and money laundering through the SKMT funds. In Dec 2021, the prime minister, while recording his statement before the…
Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib on Tuesday lambasted the PML-N after another audiotape, allegedly of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and party leader Pervaiz Rashid, was leaked online in which the two purportedly talk about the “bias” of certain journalists. The audiotape, which was shared by ARY News and Samaa TV online, has not been independently verified by Dawn.com. In the clip, Rashid can allegedly be heard saying: “They have a programme ‘Score Card'” in an apparent reference to Geo News’ well-known show Report Card. “You know [journalist] Hasan Nisar is included in the programme who abuses us (PML-N) a lot,” he allegedly adds. Meanwhile, Maryam…
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib on Monday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of operating multiple secret bank accounts. Talking to reporters outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), he said the perusal of financial documents of the two parties revealed that the PML-N and PPP hold nine and eleven undeclared bank accounts respectively. The remarks came a day before an open hearing of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) foreign funding case by the ECP. The scrutiny committee had submitted its report to the commission on Nov 26. Mr Habib said that a scrutiny…
Warner Music Group’s publishing unit has bought late British rock star David Bowie’s entire catalog spanning six decades, including hits such as “Heroes” and “Let’s Dance.” Bowie, who pushed the boundaries of music and his own sanity to produce some of the most innovative songs of his generation, died in 2016 aged 69. The deal between Bowie’s estate and Warner Music includes songs from the 26 studio albums released during his lifetime, as well as the posthumous studio album release “Toy”. Warner Music did not disclose the financial terms of the deal in its announcement on Monday, but a person…
Kim Kardashian is not thrilled by estranged husband Kanye West buying a house across her street. The 41-year-old reportedly believes that Kanye’s presence might act as a speed-breaker into her ongoing relationship with Pete Davidson. A source told InTouch that although Kim does not like Kanye’s new move to stay close to her, she might have to make ‘adjustments’ for the sake of her children. “Kim might have to make some adjustments. I mean, nobody wants their ex living right across the street,” the insider said. “It’s not the most conventional of divorce situations, to start a new life, dating and all…
