The Lahore High Court (LHC) adjourned till next week a hearing in the Imran Riaz recovery case as the Punjab Police chief told the court that investigation is heading in “right direction”.
Television anchor and YouTuber Imran Riaz was arrested two days after May 9 riots, following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest. After the journalist’s arrest, he was taken to Cantt police station and then transferred to Sialkot jail.
After this a law officer told the court on May 15 that Imran Riaz has been released from the jail after giving an undertaking in writing. His family and lawyer, however , were still not aware of his whereabouts.
An FIR was registered against “unidentified persons” for allegedly kidnapping the journalist. In the previous hearing on September 6, conducted by LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, the Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar said there was “positive progress” in the case.
“We will give good news in the next 10 to 15 days,” he told the court. The hearing was then adjourned till today.
There is a possibility that NASA’s James Webb Telescope has discovered signs of life on a distant planet.
BBC reports that the likelihood of life stems from the possible search for a molecule known as dimethyl sulphide (DMS) which is reportedly “only produced by life” in the case of Earth.
The researchers, however, believe that more data is needed to confirm its presence on the planet, named K2-18b, which is 120 light years away. Prof Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge, who led the research, deemed the discovery as “tentative” and stressed on acquiring more data for confirmation and that result is expected in a year.
”If confirmed, it would be a huge deal and I feel a responsibility to get this right if we are making such a big claim.”, he added.
Researchers have also detected methane and CO2 in its atmosphere. This means that the planet also possibly has a water ocean.
Prof Madhusudhan said that his entire team were ”shocked” when they saw the results.
“On Earth, DMS is only produced by life. The bulk of it in Earth’s atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments,” he said.
Moreover, it is the first time detecting a possible DMS presence on a planet orbiting a distant star. But the claim is being dealt with caution as a similar claim was made in 2020 regarding the presence of a molecule called phosphine. It is a molecule that could be “produced by living organisms in the clouds of Venus”. This, however, was disputed a year later.
Vice-chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that there was and is only one Chairman of the party, putting to rest any speculation about his loyalty to Imran Khan.
Appearing before a special court in Islamabad for a hearing of the cipher case, the former Foreign Minister said that Pakistan is very dear to him. “I am confident that I have never betrayed my country,” Qureshi said as he talked to media while in handcuffs.
“The gallows are near where I am incarcerated. I am loyal to my country. If I have been disloyal, then hang me,” Qureshi told members of the press, adding that he is in solitary confinement. “I am not allowed to walk around like other prisoners are. I also eat the same food as the other prisoners, I am not allowed food from home,” he said, describing the conditions inside Adiala Jail.
Shah Mehmood said that he met his wife and children on Tuesday. “My family is going through torture,” he commented.
Talking about PTI chairman Imran Khan, Qureshi said that no one can replace him. “Speculation and confusion are being spread about the chairmanship of the party,” he commented.
The interim federal and provincial law ministers have urged all state institutions to respect the authority of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in matters related to the delimitation process and election schedule.
The statement was issued by the law ministers after a meeting chaired by caretaker Law and Justice Minister Ahmad Irfan in Islamabad was conveyed in the form of a press release today.
The meeting was held to discuss a matter related to the upcoming general elections in the country. The provincial law ministers, Kanwar Dilshad (Punjab), Muhammad Omer Soomro (Sindh), Arshad Hussain Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), and Amanullah Kanrani (Balochistan), attended the huddle.
The conclusion of the important meeting was that the country’s electoral authority alone can announce the election date as per the constitution.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent constitutional body,” the statement issued by the ministry read.
The law ministry issued the statement a day after caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that President Arif Alvi has no power to announce the election date.
As a country with rich history and diverse cultural heritage, Pakistan is home to a variety of museums. Too often, however, fascinating artifacts and exhibitions in these museums are overlooked. From locomotives dating back to the British Raj, to astronomical devices from the Mughal Era; there are numerous exhibits that many do not know about.
Here is a list of 5 exhibits in different museums you are bound to find interesting:
Rare Handwritten Quranic Manuscripts- National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi
An intricately decorated Quranic manuscript at the National Museum of Pakistan- Photo by Discover Pakistan
The National Museum of Pakistan was established in the 1950s. It is Pakistan’s biggest museum and contains an important collection of artifacts relevant to the country’s cultural heritage.
This museum holds 300 copies of the Quran from different times. 52 of these copies are rare, handwritten manuscripts, some of which are in early Kufic and Bahr Arabic scripts. Some of these scripts date back to the 1300s, showing the changes in Quranic manuscripts over the years as well as the intricate craftsmanship of various writers. Many pages are also embellished with different gems, copper and even silver.
The Seated Buddha Statue- Taxila Museum, Taxila
Taxila Museum opened in 1928 and holds one of the most significant collections of artifacts from the Gandhara Civilization. It is famous for its collection of Buddhist stone and stucco sculptures from Gandhara. The museum is located in the middle of numerous archeological sites, and its core collection was excavated from Taxila Valley.
The Seated Buddha statue displayed at the Taxila Museum is one of the earliest representations of the Buddha in human form. Until the 1st century CE, the Buddha was represented through various symbols, like his footprint or the Bodhi tree. This particular statue was made in the 2nd or 3rd century CE. Thus, it is considered to be one of the oldest known Buddha statues. It was found in the site of the ancient Gandhara civilization in northwestern Pakistan. The statue is also known for its intricate carvings and striking resemblance to Buddha statues found in Tibet.
Steam Engines from the British Raj- Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum, Islamabad
A narrow gauge steam engine at the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum- Photo by Zameen.com
Inaugurated in 2003, the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum has many names. It is also known as the “Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum”, or simply goes by “Golra Sharif Station”.
Located on the outskirts of Islamabad, this museum allows visitors to experience what railway stations were like during the British Raj. Various railway equipment and largely obsolete locomotives can be explored here too. The station is still active and functioning.
Among the locomotives on display, there are three steam engines and one electric engine.
These engines are also connected to coaches, which are said to have belonged to the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. These coaches include first-class and economy coaches. Not only can visitors view these engines from the outside, but they can also explore them from the inside! Various old equipment and tools such as guns, crockery and bells can be observed too.
The Mercedes Pullman 600 displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam FarooqThe Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam Farooq
Established in 2010, the Pakistan Monument Museum focuses on the struggle for independence and pays tribute to those who took part in the Pakistan movement. The museum covers various past events, including the arrival of Islam in the subcontinent, the magnificence of the Mughal Empire and the creation of Pakistan.
In 2018, two historic luxury cars, the Mercedes Pullman 600 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, were added to the museum’s collection. This exhibit was inaugurated soon after an auction to sell them off was cancelled by the government of Pakistan.
During the 1970s, the Mercedes Pullman 600 was one of the most expensive cars available.
This specific model was used by president Yahya Khan as well as prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In addition to this, the car was used by foreign dignitaries like Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, Saudi king Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the Queen of Brunei and many other world leaders.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was built in 1976 and gifted to the Pakistani government by Saudi king Shah Khalid bin Abdul Aziz on his visit to the country. During its service with the government, the car remained in the use of prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. It was also used by foreign dignitaries like the Queen and Prince of Brunei, Prince Karim Agha Khan, world boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Princess Diana among many others.
Astrolabes from the Mughal-Era- Lahore Museum, Lahore
The Lahore Museum opened in 1894 and is Pakistan’s oldest cultural institution. The museum is famous for its blend of Mughal and British style architecture. Its permanent collection contains almost 60,000 artifacts of prehistoric as well as contemporary times. Many artifacts displayed here are also linked with Islamic, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Jain histories.
Derived from Greek, the term “astrolabe” essentially means “star holder”. This device is one of the oldest scientific instruments in the world, and was used to make different astronomical calculations using the movement of the sun and other prominent stars. Many muslim scholars played a significant role in the creation and refinement of astrolabes. Between the times of Mughal emperors Humayun and Aurangzeb, Lahore was a major centre in astrolabe making.
There are two astrolabes displayed in the Lahore museum, both made in Lahore. One was made in 1640 AD, and the other in 1841 AD, making them both from the time of the Mughal Empire.
The president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Tuesday that PML-N head Nawaz Sharif will return to the country on October 21, Geo News has reported.
“Nawaz Sharif will reach Pakistan on October 21,” Shehbaz told Geo after a meeting of the top leadership of PML-N in London, headed by the party’s head.
While speaking to the media after the high-level party huddle in London, Shehbaz said that the date for Nawaz’s return was finalised after consultation with party members.
The former prime minister mentioned that the credit for starting big development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and an end to load-shedding in the country “goes to Nawaz”.
“Nawaz returned with thanks the package which was offered to him for not making Pakistan a nuclear power, saying that Pakistan’s interest was much more valuable than $5 billion,” Shehbaz further said.
In a recent development in the Sara Sharif case, Jhelum police have shifted Urfan Sharif’s five children to the Child Protection Bureau in Lahore
A day before, Sharif’s children, found in their grandfather’s house, were taken into protective custody by the police as the hunt continues for their father and stepmother.
The children have been shifted to the Bureau after a local court granted permission to the police to do so. The children are said to be in the Bureau’s custody till the parents, Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, are found and arrested.
Dawn spoke with Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali, who stated that the parents as well as Urfan Sharif’s brother (and Sara’s uncle) are still on the run and the police is “conducting raids at possible hideouts for their arrests”.
He also clarified that the three suspects cannot flee Pakistan as FIA’s Immigration Wing has put staff on alert at all airports.
Additionally, the parent’s relatives have not been complying and have even approached Lahore High Court against the police, claiming that the police have illegally detained around 10 relatives of Urfan. “The court was being misled through fabricated information”, RPO added.
Dawn highlighted that the police had interrogated 10 to 15 of the relatives on Saturday in the search to pinpoint the couple’s whereabouts, after which they were allowed to leave.
The RPO said the relatives are playing a “dubious role” and contributing to the couple’s “trouble”.
Urfan’s father initially claimed to not have any information about his grandchildren, however, they were found at his place after the raid.
“If they did nothing wrong in London, they should feel free to hand themselves over to the police”, said the RPO, referring to the couple, hoping that they will surrender soon since the children should not be kept away from the parents for too long.
The case
On August 10, 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in her home in Woking, England, when her father, Urfan Sharif, called 999 from Pakistan.
Nadeem Riaz, shop owner and a travelling agent, has known Sharif for 11 years. During an interview with The Times, he recalled that on August 8, he booked one way tickets to Pakistan on urgent basis, claiming that his cousin died.
On August 9, Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, their five children and Sharif’s brother Faisal Malik left for Islamabad from the UK on a British Airways flight.
The next day, Urfan Sharif called 999 after which the police found Sara’s body at home. Surrey Police then began an investigation along with international partners. The same day, after arriving at Islamabad, the family travelled to Jhelum. The police kept on tracking them as they left for Domeli late on August 12, and then left Domeli the very next day. This was the last location tracked.
On August 15, Pakistan police received a request from International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) via FIA to hunt them down.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has stated on Tuesday that his party is prepared for the upcoming general election even if they are held tomorrow.
He gave this statement while speaking on Hamid Mir’s program ‘Capital Talk’ on Geo News. Maulana’s statement comes one day after Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took a jibe at his party’s former allies, saying that they are “running away” from the elections. “Conduct the elections tomorrow… we are ready for the polls even for tomorrow,” Maulana said.
The President of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) also said that his party had consistently called for new elections during the three and half years of Imran Khan’s government, reminding Hamid Mir that his party didn’t accept the result of 2018 polls and that stakeholders in All-Parties Conference (APC) were also not happy about the results.
“The APC agreed that the [2018] election results will not be accepted,” he said, adding that it meant that all political parties unanimously demanded new elections.
In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights held on Monday in Islamabad, the Ministry of Human Rights and the Human Rights Committee have recommended the formation of a National Coordination Committee to avoid incidents like Jaranwala riots.
The committee has also asked for details of incidents related to blasphemy across the country.
Blasphemy Laws:
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator Waleed Iqbal, spoke with Annie Shirazi for Independent Urdu, stating that, “Great concern has been expressed on the matter of people taking the law into their hands.”
“Several recommendations were to be presented on this matter, including the recommendations of the Ministry of Human Rights, while a couple of members also presented recommendations in the meeting.”
Senator Waleed Iqbal said an important and necessary change in mindset is required in the country, which includes brotherhood, love, and mutual tolerance.” These are the values that are derived from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, he emphasized, adding the issue will be discussed in detail.
The Senate Committee recommended the formation of a National Coordination Committee.
In the committee meeting, Senator Sami Ezadi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf proposed to review the blasphemy law again. He pointed, “Not many incidents like this used to take place in the past.”
“Many people are afraid to even talk about it. The blasphemy law should be re-examined.”, he added
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui, however, did not agree and said, “If there is no law then there will be no prevention. There should be laws to prevent every incident. The road should not be closed.”
Sami Ezidi replied that the road won’t be closed and the law will be reviewed.
The committee also sought details of blasphemy incidents across the country.
Briefing of Ministry of Human Rights on Jaranwala Incident: Human Rights Secretary Allah Dino Khawaja told the committee in the briefing that two young Christians were accused of desecrating the Holy Quran. More than 60 houses were burnt, while 100 people were also arrested in the case. “The entire community should not be targeted at the request of one person.”
“Our mothers and sisters were not afraid of animals as much as they were of humans.”, he added
He said that the Ministry of Human Rights has decided to compensate 92 families.
The Federal Secretary confirmed a lack of communication between the federation and the provinces regarding such incidents and supported the proposal for the establishment of a National Coordination Committee.
Allah Dino also revealed that four such incidents took place in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad after the Jaranwala incident, while two people were shot in Faisalabad on the charge of alleged blasphemy.
In this regard, the federal secretary emphasised on the need for reforms in the police as well. After the meeting, Senator Sami Ezadi also spoke with Independent Urdu and said that such incidents there is a reason for such incidents taking place. People believe that if they do this, they will go to heaven. We have only to revise the law, we have not changed the law, he said.
“We are not changing the law, we will only review it. If the law is right, then it is right.” We have to make this decision after a great deal of thought, he stressed.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said on Monday that President Arif Alvi has no right to announce a date for general elections as it is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Multiple sources have told different media outlets that President Arif Alvi is set to announce the election date.
Earlier in the day, during their second meeting in ten days, President Alvi had a discussion on the election schedule with the caretaker law minister.
According to sources in the president’s house, the idea that President Alvi will choose a date for the upcoming general election is “wrong”, confirming that discussions on polls are still going on.
However, PM Kakar said in an interview that, according to the law, ECP has the power to announce the election date.
The caretaker PM further said that “We have no intention to prolong the tenure of the caretaker government.”
