Punjab Police is locating Zaheer Ahmed to arrest him on the request of the Sindh Police, head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit Salman Sufi tweeted.
“Upon Sindh Police request to arrest accused Mr Zaheer, Punjab Police has been asked to locate and arrest him and Child Protection Bureau has been intimated to keep the Child in protection center. There is no leniency for Child abuse,” said Salman Sufi.
Dua Zehra Child Marriage
Upon Sindh Police request to arrest accused Mr Zaheer, Punjab Police has been asked to locate and arrest him and Child Protection Bureau has been intimated to keep the Child in protection center.
There is no leniency for Child abuse.
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) July 17, 2022
On Saturday, Karachi Police said that they had discovered enough evidence against The Minor supposed husband and other accused in a case involving her alleged kidnapping from Karachi and subsequent teenage marriage in Lahore.
The investigating officer of the case, DSP Shaukat Ali Shahani, stated this in a progress report, saying that statements from witnesses, and an analysis of the call data record (CDR) from suspect Zaheer’s cell phone revealed his presence in Karachi on the day The Minor went missing.
The progress report was filed before Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Muhammad Mehboob Awan.
The report added that cleric Hafiz Ghulam Mustafa, Asghar Ali, and Zaheer Ahmed, as well as his 21 missing relatives, had been identified as suspects in the crimes of kidnapping, which are punishable under Section 363 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and solemnizing child marriage, which is punishable under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013.
An audio call between former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and another man, Gul Zaman, has been leaked.
In the audio leak, it can be heard that two are talking about a “payment” being made to PML-N’s Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri.
Following the news, Zaman came forward with his side of the story. He said that Rasheed called him and started talking about some payment and Sharaqpuri. “I snubbed him and asked him right away,” he added.
He claimed he hasn’t met Sharaqpuri and Sharaqpuri also doesn’t know him. Gul Zaman said he has no clue why Rasheed said all that.
While talking to Samaa News, Sheikh Rasheed confirmed the authenticity of the leak. According to him, all of this was a joke and denied any payments being made.
In a video message, he further clarified that Sharaqpuri is innocent and blamed the government for the leak. He said that the government has a problem with Sharaqpuri giving his resignation to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Sharaqpuri said that it was a pre-planned audio leak. He said he doesn’t know Sheikh Rasheed much. He further added that Rasheed is Imran Khan’s enemy and is a fraud.
The former MPA announced his decision along with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry tweeted before Sharaqpuri’s resignation that some PML-N MPAs are soon going to tender their resignations.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, another PML-N MPA Kashif Mehmood has been disqualified. He claimed that now the PML-N and PPP have 173 MPAs including the independent candidates in the Punjab Assembly. PTI has also the support of 173 MPAs.
Sharaqpuri’s resignation has put the PML-N in a tight spot as it is already in a neck-to-neck contest with PTI-PMLQ over the Chief Minister’s (CM) slot.
All eyes are set on today’s by-election results, which will decide the Punjab government’s fate.
On Saturday, the D-Class Bus Stand Association delegation met with Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) General Rawalpindi, Qasim Ijaz, who requested that the transporters reduce their ticket prices by 20 per cent to help the populace.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the D-Class Bus Stand Association from Kainat, Safeway, New Shaheen, Darbar, Kohistan, Ghosia, and other locations. The ADC requested that the transporters reduce their rates by 20 per cent in light of the drop in fuel prices.
He continued by saying that the government was doing everything it could to help the populace. The association fully guaranteed a 20 per cent reduction in prices.
He instructed the transporters to post banners at their respective bus stops that clearly displayed previous and current fares in order to facilitate travelers. The Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Noor ul Amin Mengal, gave the transporters instructions to keep their waiting areas and restrooms tidy and clean so that the public could be served.
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Mahmood Khan, announced that Rs200 million would be provided for the relief and rehabilitation of the district’s union councils that had been flooded.
He made this announcement while visiting the flood-affected areas of district Tank, accompanied by Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ali Amin Gandapur, KP Minister for Relief Iqbal Wazir, Commissioner Dera Amir Affaq, Deputy Commissioner Tank Hameed Ullah Khattak, and secretaries and top officials of the province’s different departments.
The Chief Minister announced an additional Rs500,000 for the grieving families who lost loved ones in the flood and promised to use all available resources to restore normalcy to the flood-affected areas. He stated that the sum was in addition to the previously announced Rs300,000.
Additionally, he announced that each fully damaged home would receive Rs400,000 in compensation, while partially damaged homes would receive Rs160,000.
According to the chief minister, the KP government prioritises the development of southern districts, and the first budget approved by his administration only included $300 million for a tank. Afterward, it approved Rs150 million, and as of late, Rs500 million.
In relation to the southern districts’ issues with access to clean drinking water, he claimed that the government was taking proactive steps. According to him, as part of these efforts, the Gomal Zam Dam would guarantee the availability of clean drinking water in Tank city within a year.
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates has announced that he is planning to give away all his wealth, adding that he will eventually “drop off” the world’s rich list. Gates first pledged to give away his wealth back in 2010.
Gates, the fourth richest man in the world according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, plans to donate all his wealth to the Gates Foundation and will eventually be leaving the world’s rich list. Till date, he along with his ex-wife have donated more than $50 billion to the Gates Foundation, which is one of the world’s largest charity organisations that focuses on providing healthcare and education to individuals around the world. In 2020, they funded work in over 130 countries.
Bill Gates announced that he would transfer $20 billion to the Gates Foundation this month.
“I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for reducing suffering and improving lives. And I hope others in positions of great wealth and privilege will step up in this moment too.”
I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for reducing suffering and improving lives. And I hope others in positions of great wealth and privilege will step up in this moment too.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated 25 dissident members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in May. Out of these, five seats were reserved. Later, ECP notified PTI members on all five reserved seats while there will be by-elections on the rest of the 20 seats today (Sunday, July 17).
Why is it important?
The results of the by-elections will decide the fate of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz as the Supreme Court ordered a run-off poll for CM Punjab on July 22, five days after the by-polls are held. The magic number required to be the Punjab CM is 186.
Four Lahore Constituencies:
There are a total of four constituencies in Lahore.
1- PP-158
In PP-158, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Ahsan Sharafat will contest against PTI’s Mian Akram Usman. The constituency falls under NA-129, where PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq is a Member of the National Assembly (MNA). PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s former close aide Aleem Khan won the constituency as a PTI candidate in 2018 but in these elections, he will not contest and will instead support the PML-N candidate.
In PP-167, PML-N’s Nazir Chohan will contest against PTI’s Shabbir Gujjar. In 2018, Chohan won the constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-133, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik is MNA.
Areas: Mainly Johar Town
3- PP-168
In PP-168, PML-N’s Malik Asad Ali Khokhar will be against PTI’s Malik Nawaz Awan. In the 2018 general elections, Khokhar won from this constituency. The constituency falls under NA-133 and NA-131, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik and PML-N’s Saad Rafique are MNAs respectively.
Areas: Walton, Cavalry, Kot Lakhpat, Kainchi
4- PP-170
In PP-170, it will be PML-N’s Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain versus PTI’s Zaheer Abbas Khokhar. Previously, in 2018, Zulqarnain won this constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-134, where PML-N’s Rana Mubashir Iqbal is MNA.
Areas: Wapda Town, Valencia, Township, and some rural areas of Lahore
Who will win Lahore?
Talking to The Current, senior journalist Majid Nizami said that the PTI claims that it will win three seats out of the four in Lahore in the upcoming Punjab by-polls. They think that the PML-N will win PP-168. Similarly, the PML-N also claims that it will win three out of four seats in Lahore. They think that PTI will win PP-170. According to Nizami, it is quite likely that both parties will win two seats each. From PML-N, Khokhar in PP-168 and Nazir Chohan from PP-167 are the strong candidates. From PTI, Mian Akram Usman from PP-158 and Zaheer Abbas Khokhar from PP-170 are likely to give a tough time to their competitors.
5- Multan: PP-217
In Multan, PML-N’s Salman Naeem is standing against former Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son Zain Hussain Qureshi. The constituency was previously won by Naeem in 2018 when he defeated Shah Mahmood and became a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA).
According to Majid Nizami, Naeem is likely to become MPA again this time.
6- Sahiwal: PP-202
Three candidates are contesting against each other in PP-202. From PML-N, there is Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial who is fighting against PTI’s Major Ghulam Sarwar and Independent Candidate Adil Saeed Gujjar. The constituency falls under NA-149, where PTI’s Murtaza Iqbal is MNA. PTI has a chance of winning this seat.
Areas: Chichawatni Tehsil
7- Bahawalnagar: PP-237
Under this constituency, there are two candidates. PML-N’s Fida Hussain Wattoo will fight PTI’s Syed Aftab Raza, who is contesting for the first time. It is pertinent to mention that Wattoo earlier won this constituency in 2018 as an independent candidate. He later joined the PTI. Despite the fact that in the past Wattoo was elected MPA thrice in a row, Majid Nizami says that there is going to be a tough competition between these two.
Areas: Minchinabad
8- Lodhran: PP-224
PTI’s Amir Iqbal Shah will contest against PML-N’s Zawar Hussain Warraich, who won the constituency in the 2018 general elections. Zawar is also considered close to Jahangir Tareen. This seat is likely to fall in the hands of the PTI.
Areas: Dunyapur
9- Lodhran: PP-228
PML-N’s Nazir Ahmed Baloch, PTI’s Captain Retired Izzat Javed Khan and Independent Candidate Pir Syed Rafi Bukhari are contesting. Baloch already won the constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-161, where PTI’s Mian Muhammad Shafiq is MNA. Reports indicate that the PTI is in a tight position here. The tough competition will take place between Pir Syed and Baloch.
Areas: Rajapur
10- Rawalpindi: PP-7
PML-N’s Raja Sagheer Ahmed who won the constituency in the 2018 elections is going to fight against PTI’s Lt. Col. Shabbir Awan. The constituency falls under NA-57, where PTI’s Sadaqat Ali Abbasi is MNA. In this constituency, the PML-N is ahead of PTI.
Areas: Kahuta and Kallar Syedan
11- DG Khan: PP-288
The son of PTI MNA Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Abdul Qadir Khosa, is contesting on the ticket of the PML-N. He will be against PTI’s Saif-ud-din-Khosa who is ahead in the race.
Areas: Tehsil DG Khan, Shah sadar din and Ghaus Abad.
12- Khushab: PP-83
In PP-83, PML-N’s Ameer Haider Sangha is going to lock horns with PTI’s Hasan Aslam Awan and Independent candidate Malik Asif Bha. In this constituency, there is going to be a three-way fight.
Areas: Jauharabad, Khushab city and Hadali
13- Layyah: PP-282
Tahir Randhawa, on a PML-N ticket, is now fighting against PTI candidate Qaiser Abbas Magsi. Magsi contested the 2008 and 2013 elections on a PML-N ticket and won as MPA. Despite this, Randhawa is ahead of Magsi.
Areas: Chowk Azam and Chaubara Tehsil
14- Muzaffargarh: PP-272
Syeda Zehra Bukhari will be against PTI’s Moazzam Khan Jatoi. Zehra is the wife of PTI MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari and she won in 2018 from this constituency. Meanwhile, Jatoi is a former minister and MNA. Syeda Zehra has a stronghold.
Areas: Shaher Sultan
15- Muzaffargarh: PP-273
PML-N’s Muhammad Sibtain Raza is going to be up against PTI’s Yasir Arfat Jatoi. Raza won the constituency as a PTI candidate in the previous elections. However, this time Jatoi is likely to become MPA.
Areas: Ali pur Tehsil
16- Bhakkar: PP-90
PML-N’s Saeed Akhbar Khan Nawani will fight against PTI’s Irfan Ullah Khan Niazi who just joined the party. Nawani won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. Here, Nawani is said to be ahead of Niazi.
Areas: Darya Khan Tehsil
17- Faisalabad: PP-97
The former Provincial Minister in Punjab, PML-N’s Ajmal Cheema is up against PTI’s Ali Afzal Sahi in Faisalabad. Although, Cheema won the constituency in 2018, Sahi is likely to win this seat. Sahi is the son of the former speaker of the Punjab Assembly Muhammad Afzal Sahi.
Areas: Chak Jhumra Tehsil
18- Jhang: PP-125
PML-N’s Faisal Hayat Jabboana will be competing against PTI’s Mian M. Azam Cheela and Independent candidate Iftikhar Ahmad Khan Baloch. Jabboana won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. PML-N candidate is likely to leave his contenders behind.
Areas: Athara Hazari Tehsil
19- Jhang: PP-127
In PP-127, PML-N Mehr Aslam Bharwana is going to fight against M. Nawaz Bhawarana. In 2018, Aslam Bharwana won as an independent candidate. There is going to be a tough competition between the two.
Areas: Jhang Tehsil
20- Sheikhupura: PP-140
PTI’s Khurram Virk is going to fight against Mian Khalid Mehmood who won the MPA seat from this constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-121, where PML-N’s Javed Latif is MNA. However, Virk is likely to win this seat. It is pertinent to mention that according to Majid Nizami, a TLP candidate is also contesting against these two and has a pretty strong position.
Indian rapper Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia aka Badshah has messaged Pakistan singing sensation Asim Azhar after enjoying his latest track Habibi.
On Friday, Asim shared a screenshot of the chat he had with the Indian artist on his Instagram Stories. Badshah messaged, “Tripping on Habibi.” He added the 100% emoji and a red heart emoji. The Humraah singer replied, “Means so much coming from you brother.”
To this, Badshah added, “Kya hi bandiya bhai, khatam melody. What a song you’ve made bro, the melody is great!” Azhar thanked him saying, “Lots of love big bro!” Badshah sent a folded hands emoji, used to show respect.
Asim also commented on a video of the Paani Paani crooner in which he and his friends can be seen jamming on the latest chartbuster.
The Ghalat Fehmi crooner had earlier shared Habibi on his Instagram with the caption, “Had a fight with your partner and you don’t know how to make it up? Habibi — the new song by Asim Azhar — is THE song for you. It’s the patch-up song of the season and a whole new vibe. Listen, feel and rekindle the love.”
He also shared a fun video with his clan on Twitter.
Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday asked the establishment to stay away from the by-elections in Punjab that are being held on Sunday, July 17.
“Today I want to say something very important to the establishment. Tomorrow is a very important day. I have never witnessed such an election ever in Pakistan’s history,” said Sheikh Rasheed in a video message.
“I wish to request them to stay away from the elections. The nation will not tolerate any kind of rigging or bullying. You have to prove in tomorrow’s elections that you are impartial,” he added.
“If its path is blocked, this country will witness an inferno that will engulf everyone. This is why tomorrow is a test for Pakistan’s political stability,” Rasheed said.
“The people must be granted the right to [elect their own leaders] and no one must interfere.”
لگتا ہے کہ گیٹ نمبر چار پہ پکا تالا لگا دیا گیا ہے۔ جبھی تو شیخ صاحب ایسٹبلشمنٹ کو تڑیاں لگا رہے ہیں۔ گیٹ کو عزت دو pic.twitter.com/CDPzPC7n5V
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board’s approval for the release of $1,177 million to Pakistan is expected in the third or fourth week of August, according to Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail.
“Most probably August 26 is the date of board approval,” he said.
A staff-level agreement (SLA) was achieved between the IMF team and the Pakistani government on Thursday to conclude the Extended Fund Facility’s (EFF) combined seventh and eighth evaluations, according to Brecorder.
As per IMF’s statement, “Subject to Board approval, about $1,177 million (SDR 894 million) will become available, increasing the total disbursements under the Programme to approximately $4.2 billion.” The agreement also included a nine-month extension of the EFF programme and an additional $1 billion.
The federal government stated that the administration has already performed all of the preliminary steps necessary for approval. “Therefore, after the staff-level agreement, the approval from the board could be considered a formality,” he said.
The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), among others, may all provide finance as a result of the development, he claimed.
“Pakistan can easily borrow money from multilateral institutions,” he said.
While discussing commodity pricing, Miftah remarked that the people will also profit from the falling costs of goods like edible oil and wheat on the world market.
The administration made difficult choices, the finance minister continued, to prevent the nation from going into debt and to help it from its current economic crisis.
He said that the government is exerting every effort to address the circular debt and poor governance problems.
Punjab by-elections are all set to take place tomorrow in 20 constituencies across the province. Many observers have pointed out that the chief minister candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has not been seen in any campaigns.
Talking exclusively to The Current, sources close to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the efforts being made by the PML-Q leader for these by-polls are more than what the PTI has done.
“We have assigned 800 of our own people to help in the PTI in the four constituencies in Lahore apart from 400 female workers who are campaigning and helping with election preparations in these constituencies. In total, we have 1,200 people on the ground who will be working alongside PTI tomorrow in Lahore only.”
The Current’s sources further revealed that the PML-Q leader is also in touch with the “powerful quarters” and have asked them to remain neutral. “If they don’t give any undue help to PML-N, the PTI will win 13-14 seats.” The sources further said that if they are not neutral, then the results will be vice versa.
The sources told The Current that since Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the Speaker, he cannot participate openly in the campaign due to the rules set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
