Category: Uncategorized

  • Gen Bajwa’s extension: ‘Supreme Court can’t tell us what to do,’ says Fawad

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Supreme Court (SC) “does not have the authority to dictate the parliament on what matters to legislate on and how”.

    The apex court, in its November 28 verdict, had allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, directing the government to legislate on the army chief’s tenure and extension during the said time.

    Speaking to Voice of America (VOA), Fawad questioned the judiciary’s “authority to direct the parliament on legislative matters”. “The SC’s orders have a lot of legal defects and shortcomings. It almost eliminates Article 243.”

    Article 243 of the constitution pertains to the command of armed forces — that the federal government should have their control.

    “The SC cannot tell the parliament that ‘you can legislate on this but cannot legislate on that’ or ‘you can or cannot extend the duration’,” Fawad said, adding that in the constitutions of 1956 and 1962, the duration of the army chief’s tenure was ascertained.

    “But after many debates and arguments, it was taken out of the constitution of 1973, and there was a reason for that because the parliament wanted the prime minister (PM) to be empowered.”

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    “If you assign a specific amount of term to the army chief then how would you remove him before the expiration of his term, if need be. Therefore, the SC’s verdict has a lot of flaws and it needs to be corrected.”

    The minister maintained that the federal cabinet was awaiting the release of the detailed verdict of the apex court, after which the government would decide how to proceed forward. “The decision to file a review petition still has to be finalised,” he clarified.

    When asked about the differences between the government and the opposition, and how they could hinder efforts aimed at the smooth passage of any legislation in the parliament, the Fawad said “all political players in the country were on the same page on the matter since the army chief was apolitical”.

  • VIDEO: ‘I’m ISPR DG’s nephew; friend of PM, Gen Bajwa,’ man threatens Motorway Police

    VIDEO: ‘I’m ISPR DG’s nephew; friend of PM, Gen Bajwa,’ man threatens Motorway Police

    A video of an unknown man misbehaving with motorway police is making rounds on the internet, claiming that he is the nephew of Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    The video shows that the guy is misbehaving with police officials when they asked him to move his vehicle on the side of the road. The man while replying to officials demand said, “I am a son of an MNA and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and army chief are my friends”.

    He also said that he is a captain and all these officials will get dismissed.

    The person also insisted the police officials to dial a number.

  • VIDEO: Peshawar woman booked for aerial firing

    VIDEO: Peshawar woman booked for aerial firing

    A woman in Peshawar has been booked for aerial firing on Friday, after her videos went viral on social media, The Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, an FIR [First information report] has been registered against Saba Jaffer, who is a resident of Hayatabad – an upscale neighbourhood of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) provincial capital.

    The police after the videos went viral, took notice of the incident by filing a complaint against the suspect.

    The authorities are conducting raids to get hold of the Saba as the investigation in the matter is underway.

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  • LHC directs lawyers to seek public’s apology over PIC attack

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the lawyers involved in Punjab Institute of Cadiology (PIC) to seek public’s apology and correct their ranks, The News International reported.

    According to the details, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najfi, took up the petition seeking cancellation of FIRs [FIrst Information Report] registered against lawyers and their immediate release.

    Justice Najfi during the hearing said that it seemed the law of jungle is prevailing in Pakistan, as lawyers attacked the PIC, adding that no society could exist long under law of jungle.

    The court asked Azam Nazir Tarar, a Member Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), who appeared in the court on behalf of lawyers as to how lawyers dared storm a hospital?

    “What would be your reaction if such invasion of bar council’s office takes place?”, the judge asked, adding that it had not happened even in war times. “Black sheep are present among lawyers and they should be kicked out”, the judge remarked.

    Petitioner’s lawyer said that the entire lawyer community felt regret over the PIC incident and condemned the incident soon after it happened. Justice Najfi asked Azam Tarar could you present a single justification of attack on a hospital and said that the lawyers should seek public apology and correct their ranks.

    The judge added that the court was hearing the case with heavy heart and pain.

    Justice Anwarul Haq Punhun who is the other member of the bench, asked whether any bar council had shown willingness to take action against the delinquent lawyers.

    To this, Azam said that the bar council was going to take action against them and their practice licences would be suspended.

    However, Justice Najfi said that apparently lawyers were aggressor, adding that the arrested lawyers would have to seek bail from the trial court.

    “The judges had taken oath to do justice in accordance with the Constitution and law of the land, he added.

    The court then adjounred the hearing and directed provincial law officer to furnish record of cases and details of arrested lawyers by Dec 16.

  • Season’s first markhor hunted in Skardu

    Season’s first markhor hunted in Skardu

    Italian hunter Carlo Pasco has hunted the season’s first Markhor trophy in Skardu town.

    According to reports, Pasco successfully hunted a flared-horned markhor in Skardu.

    The hunter had paid a permit fee of $85,000 to hunt a markhor in the region.

    Late last month, it was reported that the wildlife department of Gilgit Baltistan has auctioned four licenses for hunting the markhor, the official national animal of Pakistan after the Ministry of Climate Change agreed to the licenses, including for trophy hunting of the much in demand flare-horned Astore markhor, a large goat species native to Pakistan.

    Each license was sold for over $80,000, of which 80 percent will go to the villages where the hunt takes place for developing their infrastructure.

  • IN PICTURES: Sania Mirza’s sister Anam ties the knot

    IN PICTURES: Sania Mirza’s sister Anam ties the knot

    Tennis champion Sania Mirza’s sister Anam Mirza tied the knot with former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin’s son Asaduddin in Hyderabad.

    Anam took to social media to make the announcement. The two looked resplendent in their wedding finery on their big day.

    Meanwhile, Sania Mirza looked lovely in a teal outfit. Husband Shoaib Malik was missing from the wedding celebrations – the former captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team is currently in Dhaka for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

    Following the nikkah, the couple also hosted a reception the next day.

    Prior to the nikkah there was a sangeet.

    Anam with baby Izhaan Mirza Malik

    Anam and Asad began dating earlier this year after Anam’s divorce in 2018.

  • Saudi royals unhappy with Imran; PM to visit Kingdom, clarify his position

    Saudi royals unhappy with Imran; PM to visit Kingdom, clarify his position

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will visit Saudi Arabia on Saturday after recent signals from Riyadh indicate that the kingdom’s leaders were not happy with Imran’s decision to attend Kuala Lumpur summit scheduled to be held in Malaysia later this month, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, PM Imran will reportedly reassure Saudi leadership that ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia remain firm despite Islamabad’s engagement with other Muslim countries.

    The reports further reveal that Saudis are seeing the summit an an attempt by Malaysia to present an alternative to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as the progressively dysfunctional OIC works under the de-facto leadership of the Saudis.

    Other leaders which are participating in the summit include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani among others.

    Pakistan has expressed its keenness to attend the summit as the Foreign Office (FO) in its recent statement has said, “The KL summit would provide Pakistan with an opportunity to exchange views and find solutions to challenges facing the Muslim world, particularly the governance, development, terrorism and Islamophobia”.

    “The summit will also provide us an opportunity to foster cooperation in diverse areas with the participating countries”, the statement added.

    Meanwhile, FO spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal while responding to questions about PM Imran’s sudden visit to Saudi Arabia has said, “High-level political exchanges between the two countries are the hallmark of this brotherly bilateral relationship. You have witnessed the high frequency of leadership level exchanges, especially since last August”.

    Dr Faisal further said, “The PM has undertaken at least three visits to KSA since May this year. Any further information about any future visit will be shared accordingly.”

  • Islamabad High Court gets its first female judge

    Islamabad High Court gets its first female judge

    The Islamabad High Court on Friday got its first female judge.

    According to reports, Justice Lubna Saleem Pervaiz was administered the oath by Chief Justice Athar Minallah at the high court.

    Two other judges, Fiaz Anjum Jadran and Ghulam Azam Qambrani, were also sworn in.

    Meanwhile, Justices Aamer Farooq, Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb attended the ceremony.

    Earlier in December, Chief Justice Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa had revealed that the judiciary is working towards inducting female judges in the Supreme Court.

    Addressing the concluding session of Women Judges Conference in Lahore, Justice Khosa had said that more than 300 female judges are working in the district courts of Pakistan and that they were doing a brilliant job.

    “Our women judges have proven their abilities through their verdicts and by the way they have handled complex cases,” Justice Khosa had said, adding, “We have as many as 300 women judges in district courts and we hope to soon have at least one or two in the Supreme Court. I had the opportunity to propose two names and they are being actively considered.”

  • Zardari will sign plea bargain deal by March: Sheikh Rasheed

    Zardari will sign plea bargain deal by March: Sheikh Rasheed

    Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has claimed that former president Asif Ali Zardari will sing a plea bargain deal in corruption cases “by the end of March”, Pakistan Today reported.

    According to the details, the minister during a media talk at the Bahria University in Islamabad has said, “If Bilawal doesn’t accept a plea bargain deal, his political career will be finished.”

    Shiekh Rasheed said that Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government has been taking steps to address the issue of inflation, adding that only Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan can take people out of their problems.

    The minister also urged youth to play their role in the progress of the country and asserted that a strong economy was important to formulate independent policies and ensure a strong defence.

    Rasheed also regretted the attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore by a disgruntled mob of lawyers.

  • ‘India is the rape capital of the world’ Rahul Gandhi

    ‘India is the rape capital of the world’ Rahul Gandhi

    “India has turned into the rape capital of the world. The international community looks down upon us. Modi sarkar (Modi government) falsely claims that they are protecting women of India day and night.” said Rahul Gandhi in many of his speeches in 2019. 

    Today, Smriti Irani, BJP’s politician, and former TV star outrageously demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi in the parliament of India.

    She said, “For the first time in India, the member of the Gandhi family is saying, the women of India should be raped. He made fun out of this heinous crime.”

    Rahul Gandhi denied and accused smirtin Irani of twisting the facts smirti Irani of twisting the facts.

    Furthermore, while answering the accusation, he tweeted a video clip of Modi and captioned it, “Modi should apologize for burning the north, for destroying India’s economy, and for the speech which I am attaching.”

    It
    is true that Indian is one of the most unsafe countries in the world for women,
    however, such insensitive comments should be avoided in public spheres.