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Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s conditioned worsened as his platelet count fluctuated and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who was earlier denied permission to meet him, was allowed to do so. After her meeting with her father, she was admitted in the same hospital but family sources are now saying that the government wants to take Maryam back to the hospital “at any cost”.
Police has arrived at the Services Hospital to take @MaryamNSharif back to Kot Lakhpat jail. Police has told the hospital authorities that its under instructions from the govt to take Maryam back to jail at any cost.
Earlier, on Wednesday, a judge had denied Maryam’s request to meet her father but the government gave her permission last night.
VIDEO: Maryam Nawaz reaches the hospital last night
Senior leadership, including Nawaz’s brother, Shehbaz Sharif, also went to visit Nawaz at Services Hospital in Lahore.
Sources say that Nawaz says that he wants to die in jail and that people have died in jail before. According to journalist Zahid Gishkori, doctors have said that Nawaz should get treatment abroad but the former PM is refusing to go out of the country. Reporters are also stating that a doctor has been flown in from Karachi to conduct further tests.
Alert: Nawaz Sharif’s health enters into a danger zone.Doctors gave him go ahead to get treatment abroad. But Nawaz Sharif is not ready for it. Family members are in “to be or not be” situation. #NawazSharif
Journalist and senior anchor, Meher Bokhari tweeted about PM Khan’s reaction to the news, saying that the Prime Minister asked how he could be blamed for Nawaz’s health. She said that when she asked him about it, he “threw his arms up with a bewildered look on his face,” and said, “Am I the doctor? Am I the court? How am I being blamed for this?” and then called “Buzdar to arrange for Maryam to see NS”.
I asked #PMImranKhan today abt #NawazSharif deteriorating health & him being blamed for it. He threw his arms up w a bewildered look on his face, “Am I the doctor? Am I the court? How am I being blamed for this?” Right after briefing he called Buzdar to arrange 4 Mariam to see NS
As #NawazneedsUNhelp starts trending on Twitter last night, people have also started Whatsapp groups to pray for Nawaz’s health and others are asking for international help, claiming that Nawaz has been poisoned.
This is an emergency appeal to #UNOHCHR and #AmnestyInternational to take immediate action to save precious life of #NawazSharif who was reportedly poisoned in jail with proper medical aid denied to let him die. Please raise your voice ASAP to rescue him. #NawazNeedsUNhelp
Following the shortfall of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) at public hospitals across Sindh, Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar-led administration in Punjab has reportedly started running out of the same.
According to a private media outlet, a minor girl in Sialkot was bitten by a dog earlier this week. Hadiya later passed away because there was no vaccine available at the Civil Hospital she was rushed to in the Kotli Loharan town of the district.
Last month, a ten-year-old, who was bitten by a stray dog, died of rabies in Larkana.
According to details, the minor, who was identified as Mir Hasan was first taken to a hospital in Shikarpur, however, he was not given the treatment because there was no vaccine available at the hospital.
Hasan’s parents later rushed him to Larkana’s Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Hospital, but it had also run out of the required vaccine, resulting in the boy succumbing to the disease.
The tragic development in Punjab comes amid the government’s inaction despite a rise in the number of dog-bite in Sialkot. Earlier this year, over 200 people were attacked by stray dogs in the district within a short span of two months.
RABIES&VACCINE SHORTAGE:
Rabies encephalitis is a dog-borne viral illness caused mostly by the biting of stray dogs, and if ARV is not administered to the affected person along with immunoglobulin, the patient suffers a miserable death due to hydrophobia and other complications of the disease.
According to SAMAA, most anti-rabies vaccinations in Pakistan were imported from India, but they don’t want to export the vaccine to Pakistan anymore.
The vaccine imported from India cost Rs1,000 whereas the one imported from Europe costs Rs70,000. At public hospitals, cases of dog bites are treated for free. Public hospitals use the Indian vaccine because it’s cheaper. Some private hospitals in the city use the expensive European vaccines.
“The time has come to start producing this vaccine in Pakistan. If the government can’t find a cheap alternative to the European vaccine, the number of deaths due to rabies will increase,” SAMAA quoted Pakistan Medical Association member Dr Qaiser Sajjad as saying.
With the government planning to put in place hundreds of shipping containers to seal the twin cities and block the forthcoming long march of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), reports have revealed that the move will be costing taxpayers millions of rupees a day.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced leading an anti-government long march to Islamabad via Rawalpindi with plans of a lockdown. While the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has invited opposition parties for a dialogue to call off the protest, it is also preparing for the worst.
The capital will likely be sealed from October 31 onwards by either the police or the JUI-F as preparations on both sides for the Azadi March gain momentum. According to Dawn, the Islamabad police have demanded more than 550 shipping containers to intercept the march before it enters the city.
The containers include 250 for City Zone and 100 each for Saddar, Industrial Area and Rural zones, while the logistics department of the police has ordered a vendor to arrange 450 containers.
The Rawalpindi police, on the other hand, have prepared a contingency plan under which 120 freight containers will be used to seal the garrison city by blocking all roads leading to Islamabad.
According to officials, each container being procured for both the cities, costs more than Rs5,000 a day to rent, which puts the total cost of 670 containers at Rs3.3 million (Rs3,350,000) a day.
Prime Minister Youth Affairs Program (PMYAP) has planned to establish 500 skilled laboratories in Madrassas to mobilize these institutions across the country with modern technology tools, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)reported.
A PMYAP official has said that most of the madrassas were undergoing informal education programmes to impart basic education to the students along with religious schools.
However, the authorities were planning to collaborate with different madrassas in the country to have modern technology equipped laboratories for their students.
“These skilled laboratories would help provide acquaintance to new methodologies applied through information technology tools and software applications. It would also contain technical training equipment as well that is going to enable madrasa students get technical skills for better employment opportunities,” PMYAP official added.
He also said that this programme would primarily focus to get the madrassa students at par with those acquiring formal education in schools for better employment.
Ahead of his long march to the federal capital against the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman has asked the media fraternity “to unite against bars on its freedom”.
“You the journalists should plead your case against censorship being imposed by undemocratic forces,” Fazl said while addressing a press conference at the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
The JUI-F chief’s statement came days after a private media outlet took off the air his media-talk, alleging a ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA).
Geo news accepts on air that PEMRA is ordering the censorship of opposition leaders. Where is the selected PM who used to claim media in Pakistan is more free than in UK? pic.twitter.com/VrKXyS1qYe
The incident was followed by veteran journalist and analyst Hamid Mir’s tweet stating that the media watchdog has “forced TV channels not to show” Fazl’s presser.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority forced TV channels not to show the press conference of opposition politician Maulana Fazalur Rehman we can differ with Maulana but Govt is showing weakness by imposing unannounced censorship in Pakistan @RSF_inter@pressfreedom
He said that the government was showing weakness by “imposing unannounced censorship” in Pakistan.
Speaking to journalists Friday, Fazl said that media had a key role to play in the current situation. He claimed that it was the media that was giving his efforts a name of its choice and said, “For the JUI-F, it is an attempt to secure respect for popular vote and warn those who are trying to steal it every time.”
Flanked by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and JUI-F leader Abdul Ghaffoor Haideri, the religio-political party chief said that if any individual wanted to attain absolute power in the negation of the democratic norms, it could not be accepted in a free and sovereign state.
“Mutiny can take place any time against tyranny,” he warned, adding that the constitution clearly demarcated the area of jurisdiction for all organs of the state, and all must respect it.
“The trouble arises when one institution tries to hog the domain of others and creeping influence destabilises other state organs by breeding frustration among them. Once that frustration hits a boiling point, the entire process implodes. This cycle is being repeated with regularity for the last seven decades. The current JUI-F effort is aimed at breaking the cycle: demolishing illegal results of the last manipulation, ensuring fresh and legal mandate and securing commitment on part of the stakeholders to respect the constitution,” Fazl explained.
He said the public mandate had been hijacked in the last general elections, adding that the nation should once again be given the right to chose and change should come through ballot to put an end to the prevailing sense of uncertainty among people.
“Only two persons, including the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the chairman of FBR [Federal Board of Revenue], have got employment in the country so far,” he said and added that the entire nation and opposition parties were on the same page against the government.
Earlier, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam urged political parties to extend support to Fazl and sign a charter of democracy-like agreement to reject and discourage any anti-democratic regime in the country.
A “civil society declaration” on civil, political, social and human rights of the oppressed people, women and minorities was also presented to the JUI-F chief with a demand that an all parties conference must make a commitment to the people of Pakistan to make them sovereign.
GOVT READY FOR ACTION?
The capital will likely be sealed from Oct 31 onwards by either the police or the JUI-F as preparations on both sides for the Azadi March gain momentum, Dawn reported.
According to police officers, the Islamabad police have demanded more than 550 shipping containers to intercept the march before it enters the city. The demand was made by zonal superintendents of police City, Saddar, Industrial Area and Rural to the police’s logistics division, they said.
The police have decided to block each of the Expressway’s connecting roads from both sides from Faizabad to the Koral flyover, they said, as this area becomes ‘Waterloo’ for them during protests and law and order problems.
All the connecting roads of Rawalpindi to I.J. Principal Road will also likely be sealed, the officers said, and steps will be taken to intercept people trying to join the march or gather in the capital.
The police have more than 1,000 gas masks, 200 teargas launchers and 13,000 shells available in the logistics division armoury, they said, along with enough batons, plastic helmets, riot jackets, riot shields, shin guards and arms, if needed.
More riot gear was demanded to cope with a deteriorating situation, if it arises.
The police have also threatened local traders with legal action if they do business with the organisers or participants of the Azadi March, the officers said.
These traders include catering services, tent services, hotels, motels, guest-houses and inns, generators, workshops, hardware stores, welding workshops, sound system services, excavator owners and crane owners.
Rawalpindi police, on the other hand, have requested 6,000 shells of tear gas, 1,600 rubber bullets, batons, masks and shields. Anti-riot exercises have begun in Police Lines Headquarters and special squads have been formed to be deployed at sensitive locations.
Journalist and anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada has tolled Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan over “another broken promise”, and it’s hilarious.
Khanzada, in his show last night, aired an old video of PM Imran promising that he will create such opportunities in Pakistan that people from foreign countries will be seeking jobs in the country.
He also said that former Finance Minister Asad Umar had earlier claimed that people from foreign countries were already seeking executive positions in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), but in reality, the positions were still vacant and PSM was still inoperational.
الیکشن سے پہلےعمران خان نے دعویٰ کیاکہ تحریک انصاف کی حکومت میں باہرسےلوگ نوکریاں کرنے پاکستان آئیں گے۔پھرحکومت میں آنے کے بعد اسد عمر نے کہا دنیا بھرسے لوگ آرہے ہیں اوراب وزیرخزانہ گزشتہ برس کےمقابلےمیں زیادہ لوگوں کےنوکریوں کیلئےپاکستان سے باہرجانےکاکریڈٹ اپنی حکومت کودےرہےہیں- pic.twitter.com/OAlPDCDY64
Continuing his brutal trolling of premier and his aides, Khanzada also aired a video of Finance Adviser Abdul Hafeez Sheikh saying, “Our government’s target is to increase foreign employment of Pakistani citizens”.
He was heard as adding that this year from January to August, the government had sent around 373,000 people from Pakistan to foreign countries for employment.
Shahzeb then said that the government instead of providing job opportunities was now taking credit for sending people abroad for jobs.
Despite setbacks and disinterest of the people in contributing to the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams fund, Pakistan Railways (PR) is continuing to charge passengers with a surcharge of up to Rs10 on all tickets.
As per the details, the said surcharge was implemented by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in September last year so as to collect money for the construction of dams while fearing a water crisis in the near future.
PR had earlier decided to increase fares for all classes to contribute to the fund and the surcharge on tickets was imposed on the directives of Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.
The authorities had decided to charge Rs1 on Rs100 economy class tickets and Rs2 on tickets worth more than Rs100. An additional amount of Rs10 is being charged on air-conditioned class tickets as no category has been exempted from the surcharge.
Some of the remains of India’s founding father, Mahatma Gandhi, were stolen on his 150th birth anniversary, a BBC report quoted local police as saying.
According to the report, the ashes were stolen from the memorial where they had been kept since 1948 — the year of Gandhi’s assassination by a Hindu extremist.
The thieves also defaced his photographs by scrawling “traitor” in green paint all over them. Some Hindu hardliners view Gandhi as a traitor for his advocacy of Hindu-Muslim unity.
This is despite Gandhi being a devout Hindu himself.
Madhya Pradesh Police confirmed to BBC Hindi that they were investigating the theft on the grounds of actions “prejudicial to national integration” and potential breach of peace.
Mangaldeep Tiwari, caretaker of the Bapu Bhawan memorial, where the ashes were being held, said the theft was “shameful”.
“I opened the gate of the Bhawan early in the morning because it was Gandhi’s birthday,” he told an Indian media outlet. “When I returned at around 11 pm, I found the mortal remains of Gandhi missing and his poster was defaced.”
Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi has said that the government is planning to make drug tests mandatory for school staff and students in Islamabad, The Express Tribune reported.
According to the details, in a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control, Afridi asserted that no person responsible for propagating drugs to the youth would be spared, “even if they are members of the parliament”.
He claimed that the government is working on legislation to punish the possession and distribution of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or ice and added that the ministry had collected data of “drug dealers and money launderers” from over 250 international law enforcement agencies.
Narcotics Control Secretary Amjad Javed Saleemi also informed the Senate panel that they are maintaining a record of criminal entities involved in narcotics trade, adding that the system helps track drug peddlers and their facilitators.
A heated argument marred Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s interview with journalist Javed Chaudhry during the latter’s television talk show, “Kal Tak”.
The discussion turned into a spat when Qureshi was asked about the resolution that Pakistan was going to submit at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against India on Kashmir.
The minister said that it was not their plan to submit the resolution and were only monitoring the situation, adding that they “would not make any decision under pressure of social media or tweets”.
“It was you [and your government] who were tweeting”, the journalist said in response, adding that even Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had mentioned the UN resolution and 58 countries supporting Pakistan.
Hearing this, FM Qureshi got riled up and demanded to see the tweets, printed copies of which were also presented to the minster.
Agitated over Javed, Qureshi also said, “I still own it.” He further asked Javed Chaudhary, “Are you sitting here with a fixed agenda?”
Earlier in a tweet, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PM Imran had said that Pakistan got a historic joint statement on behalf of over 50 countries to the UN Human Rights Council.
I commend the 58 countries that joined Pakistan in Human Rights Council on 10 Sept reinforcing demands of int community for India to stop use of force, lift siege, remove other restrictions, respect & protect Kashmiris’ rights & resolve Kashmir dispute through UNSC resolutions.
Pakistan today also announces the delivery of a historic joint statement on behalf of over 50 countries to the UN Human Rights Council. For this, we asked that the Council immediately take the following steps #HRC42pic.twitter.com/538RNc5je4
