“The Pakistani Taliban has suffered from American and Pakistani security operations in recent years, but its cells are still active in Pakistan’s cities and are still capable of carrying out attacks,” he told Al Jazeera in his first interview since escaping from Pakistani military custody in January.
The groups are active in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, said Ehsanullah Ehsan.
He further added, “We cannot say that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar or other anti-Pakistan [armed] groups are completely finished. They definitely have a set-up and perhaps they have gone silent as part of a plan. They are present in Pakistani cities and they have the ability to carry out attacks.”
The interview was conducted from an undisclosed location through voice notes exchanged over an internet-based messaging service.
As per the report, Pakistan’s military is provided with a detailed list of the allegations made by Ehsan in this interview, but they offered no comment. The Pakistani interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Renowned actor and activist Nadia Jamil has been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Jamil took to social media to share the news with her fans and followers. The actor said that she felt a wave of emotions when she found out, adding that she is now four days into her treatment. Nadia also urged all her followers to conduct regular self-checks and act fast if they feel any abnormalities.
Its stage 1 breast cancer/grade 3 tumour.Regular self checks are important ladies!Please act fast if you feel any abnormalities. Do NOT ever ignore your body,your health. I now await my surgery date & am feeling positive & loved. Please dont worry & take good care of yourselves❤️
When a follower asked her about the symptoms she felt, Nadia said that she conducted regular checkup and visited a GP as soon as she felt a lump.
As I shared dear Putar Ji,I do regular checkups as all ladies should after a certain age.When I felt a lump I immediately went 2 my GP who referred me 2 a hospital. Scans,tests,biopsy later I was diagnosed
Please encourage all ladies over the age of 40 in your family 2 check https://t.co/iHAdX7jvpa
However, Nadia said that cancer has not taken her smile away and that she is focused on remaining positive.
Cancer hasnt taken my smile away. All I need 2do is think of you,watch a tree in all its beautiful rooted strength,let the wind say hello or stare at clouds floating by. A solid bowl of chanay ki daal w rice & a cuppa adrak qava helps Gratitude helps,your love helps,dua helps❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZyddBXsTqd
Id like u 2 meet a few of the great teachers who taught me positivity.
Children.
Fatima died frm Cancer.But I remember her smile whn we met last. Bisma suffers emotional,physical pain everyday,bt love makes her smile! Look at their smiles Afsheen never stops smiling MashaAllah pic.twitter.com/qC7KPXljrP
Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based monthly inflation slowed to 10.24 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the previous month, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
This is the second month in a row that the CPI reading has eased by more than 2 per cent. The bureau had recorded CPI inflation at 12.4 per cent in February. Inflation at 10.2 per cent is the lowest reading in the past seven months.
According to PBS data, commodity prices remained largely unchanged and markets functioned normally in March despite partial lockdown of the country to control the spread of coronavirus.
In addition to fuel charges, the prices of food items, including pulses, fresh vegetables and wheat, which have been the main drivers of inflation, also saw a significant downtrend, the bureau said.
However, it added, the real impact of slash in demand or short supply of commodities due to the shutdown of the market is yet to come.
“The government’s move to keep the trade of groceries unaffected may support the fall of inflation even in the coming months.”
The average inflation in the first nine months (July-March) of fiscal year 2020 stood at 11.53 per cent, which in the same period of the last year was 6.3 per cent.
As per the data, the rate of inflation during the month under review slowed down both in urban and rural areas. Food inflation in urban areas that stood at 15.2 per cent in the preceding month eased to 13 per cent in March. Similarly, in rural areas, the food inflation pace slowed down from 19.7 per cent in February to 15.5 per cent last month.
However, Twitter users were not pleased with his ‘half-baked’ apology.
Apologies *IF* I hurt you. Bro you used a known racial slur and don’t even have the decency to acknowledge that it’s a big deal. Makes sense you opened for Ali Zafar, birds of a feather
Shamoon later released a new song, which possibly was a way to hit back at all the haters. Because the opening line of the song is: “Mein label te nae jaanda, Teri cable te nae aanda, Teray table te nae khaanda, Ey sab mera apna.”
Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Mayo Hospital and Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) co-chairperson, Professor Dr Asad Aslam, has said that 18 patients of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — were successfully treated with anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin during the past five days.
According to reports, Dr Aslam on Thursday said that eight patients at Mayo Hospital, four at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and five at other hospitals of the province were administered the drugs during the past five days.
“The patients were administered two tablets of hydroxychloroquine in the morning and two in the evening on the first day whereas, on the remaining four days, they were given one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Simultaneously, they were given one tablet of azithromycin in the morning and one in the evening for five days.”
He, however, urged people to avoid self-medication and said these medicines should only be used upon a doctor’s prescription because they could have serious side-effects, including hepatotoxicity (drug-induced liver damage), bone marrow suppression and risk of sudden death, especially when used with azithromycin and many other medications that can affect heart rhythm.
Meanwhile, the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) strongly advised against the inappropriate use and hoarding of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
According to Dawn, they said there was a lack of undisputed scientific evidence and the risk of adverse events. “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should only be used as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for COVID-19, under the supervision of an expert,” read a press release.
It further said that the anti-malaria drugs were also used to treat immune system disorders.
“Both these drugs have a new and emerging role in treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia (off-label) and a presumed role in prevention against the infection.”
Experts associated with MMIDSP include infectious diseases physicians, clinical microbiologists and nurses who are trained in infection prevention and control.
A man who was exposed to the coronavirus hid that he was feeling ill so he could visit his wife in the maternity unit of an upstate New York hospital and be with her when she delivers their child.
According to NBC, the matter only came to light after his wife also began to show symptoms.
The hospital staff said that the man was questioned by the staff at the hospital before entering and he assured them that he was in good health and had not been exposed to the coronavirus. However, shortly after giving birth, the woman began to show symptoms.
“That’s when the significant other admitted his potential exposure and that he was feeling symptomatic,” said a hospital official, adding that they cannot share whether the mother, father or newborn child were infected with the coronavirus because of privacy laws. The mother has since returned home.
Meanwhile, a nurse who assisted the family was also tested for the virus and the results came back negative.
Many hospitals in New York are banning most visitors to help control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
A hospital official said that before they would only ask visitors before allowing them inside, “but now we’re adding the temperature check.”
“Those with symptoms will be asked to leave the hospital. These screening measures will be completed twice daily throughout the hospitalization,” the hospital said, adding that the guest will not be allowed to leave the patient’s room without the patient.
As Pakistan wages war on the coronavirus pandemic, chairperson of Dawood Hercules Corporation — parent organisation of Pakistani multinational conglomerate Engro Corporation — and billionaire Hussain Dawood has announced pledging a contribution in services, kind and cash of Rs1 billion for a short, medium and long-term basis, on behalf of Dawood Hercules, Engro and his family.
“We are committed to help solve some of the most pressing issues of our time and it is incumbent upon us to serve our nation best when it needs us most. These are our fundamental values that continue to be at the core of what we strive to achieve,” Hussain said in a press release issued Thursday
“We must work on several fronts concurrently. The need of the hour is to target on reducing the spread and impact of this virus,” he emphasised.
The group further said it would focus on disease prevention, with a major focus on testing and diagnostics, protecting and enabling healthcare practitioners and other key workers, who are at the frontline of the fight against this pandemic, enabling patient care and facilities; and to bolster livelihoods and sustenance of the most deserving in society.
The company also welcomed the efforts by the government and other organisations who have stepped up to this challenge.
The contribution comes a day after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan announced a relief fund to fight the coronavirus epidemic and urged everyone to donate.
Send your tax deductible donation to Acc. No. 4162 786 786 National Bank of Pakistan Main Branch Karachi. Complete account information and transfer instructions are available at https://t.co/CRL0erEk3Z
“Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020 has been set up to help us fight this pandemic. I want everyone to donate towards this fund which will be used to take care of all those who have been made destitute by the lockdown,” he had tweeted.
Everyone’s lockdown story is not the same. While some of us are lucky enough to be spending this time at home with our family, for others such as daily wage labourers it is a matter of life and death because they are unable to feed their families.
We can help them in this difficult time by providing them with food and other essentials. The Current has listed a few organisations that are collecting and distributing ration bags.
Rizq
Rizq, a social organisation set up by LUMS alumni, Huzaifa Ahmed, Musa Aamir and Qasim Javaid, has initiated a national movement called Ehsaas Karo. Through this movement, Rizq aims to mobilise resources from individuals, corporates, companies, philanthropists and foundations to fulfil the hunger needs of those most affected by this crisis. For Phase 1 of the campaign, the organisation is targeting to support 10,000 affected families by providing them monthly food supplies.
The volunteer-based group, made up of students and young professionals gets surplus food from restaurants to the less fortunate people at orphanages, old-age homes and public hospitals.
Number: 021-38693111, 03008861164
Email: pakistan@robinhoodarmy.com
Ideas 9
Ideas 9 is an organization led by some professionals to promote peace, social justice, interfaith harmony, against terrorism and injustice. In this time, they are contributing to society by distributing rations bags.
You can donate directly to the government and your donations can be used by the state to manufacture protective equipment for the doctors and essentials for hospitals or to provide a cash stipend to the most vulnerable.
Following Asim Jofa, renowned fashion designer Deepak Perwani has offered to produce Personal Protective Gear for the medical staff and volunteers who are fighting against coronavirus on the frontlines. Perwani’s announcement comes after Sindh Governor Imran Ismail discussed with him the importance of locally produced equipment.
Governor Ismail on Wednesday had said that doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and volunteers are fighting on the frontlines against coronavirus, so every step will be taken to ensure their safety and well-being.
He said this while talking to a four-member delegation led by Deepak Parwani, representing the fashion designing and textile industry who had called on him at the Governor House.
Local production of protective gear against the coronavirus pandemic, the needs of the Corona Relief Tiger Force announced by the prime minister, less dependence on imported items and other matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting.
Governor Ismail said that the personal protective gear for health care professionals is very important, and due to the difficulties in its availability, the local production of such gear would be encouraged by the government.
He asked for the details of the planned local manufacture of protective gear, assuring that he would personally look into the issue and facilitate them.
Meanwhile, Perwani said that the textile and fashion designing industry considered it their national duty to provide whatever was required to facilitate the health professionals and volunteers in the challenging times faced by the country.
Other members of the delegation included Kehkashan Saiyed, Furqan Riaz and Shozaib Kapadia.
Other brands like Lulusar has also announced to manufacture medical protective suits for the medical staff.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned he would order the country’s police and military to shoot dead anyone “who creates trouble” during a month-long lockdown of the island of Luzon enforced to halt the spread of the coronavirus, France 24 reported.
“Let this be a warning to all. Follow the government at this time because it is critical that we have order,” he said in a late-night televised national address on Wednesday.
“And do not harm the health workers, the doctors … because that is a serious crime. My orders to the police and the military, if anyone creates trouble, and their lives are in danger: shoot them dead.”
“Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge the government. You will lose,” he added in Filipino and English.
Duterte’s warning came after residents of a slum in Manila’s Quezon City staged a protest along a highway near their shanty houses, claiming they had not received any food packs and other relief supplies since the lockdown began more than two weeks ago.
Village security officers and police urged the residents to go back to their homes, but they refused, a police report said.
Police broke up the protest and arrested 20 people, the report added.
Health authorities in the Philippines have recorded 2,311 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus as of Wednesday. At least 96 people have died.
