Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has been advised to leave the country with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and to return at the right time, Dawn reported Friday.
According to reports, a property tycoon recently called on the jailed ex-premier and told him it was “in the best interests of everyone that he and his daughter left the country for now”.
The report also claimed that the said property tycoon was “the same gentleman who had earlier conveyed the message of an important person to Nawaz to step down as the premier”.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif also visited his elder brother on Thursday at the Kot Lakhpat Jail and their meeting has further fuelled rumours about the possibility of a deal that could lead to the Sharif family moving abroad for a few years.
However, it is also said that Nawaz is not ready to leave the country.
Meanwhile, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has trashed reports and denied the claim that Nawaz met any property tycoon in jail.
“Mian Sahib had returned to Pakistan along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz clearly knowing that he was going to jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case, leaving behind his beloved wife on death bed for the rule of law,” reports quoted Marriyum as saying.
“Kashmir needs to breathe” and “India is a terrorist state” were among the messages that could be seen on bjp.org‘s homepage until it was successfully recovered.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has recommended that the act of triple talaq (instant divorce) should be made a punishable crime.
Replying to a question by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Bashir Virk, CII Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz informed the NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice that divorce takes place when the word for it, talaq, is uttered thrice in one breath – even if it has been done in jest.
Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem said that there was precedence in Islamic history of such an act being punished by the state, saying that the second caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar (RA), had punished those who performed the act of instant divorce.
“Therefore, the NA can make laws to make this action a punishable crime,” he said.
Endorsing the law minister’s stance, Dr Ayaz said triple talaq should be made punishable in Fiqah Hanafi.
When inquired about the punishment, Ayaz said that the CII had not determined that as yet. “If the Law Ministry agrees to our suggestion to make it a punishable offence, the punishment can also be determined.”
The law minister warned that making triple talaq a punishable crime would become another mean through which the police would demand bribes.
“If divorce is not a crime, then such legislation should be avoided,” he said. “But if there is precedence of the righteous caliph, then we are bound to follow it as well,” he added.
The committee deferred the discussion on the bill about divorce as well as that on inheritance till the next meeting.
Pakistan is on Friday observing Defence and Martyrs Day to mark the 54th anniversary of 1965 Pakistan-India war when Pakistan Army successfully defended the country against a multi-pronged Indian attack on the eastern border.
While this year’s September 6 is being observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day for those who suffer under a month-long lockdown imposed by Indian forces, Pakistanis are also paying homage to the heroes who defended their homeland with courage over five decades ago.
Here’s what you should know about the heroes of the 1965 war.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed: Bhatti valiantly defended BRB Canal against the enemy in Lahore’s Barki area where he kept Indian troops from advancing for five days and braving the Indian artillery and tanks.
He
embraced martyrdom after being hit by an enemy tank shell on September 12.
MM Alam: During the war, five Indian fighter planes headed towards PAF Base Sargodha. However, Alam created history by destroying all of them.
He passed away on March 18, 2013, at the age of 78.
Cecil Chaudhry: Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was an academic, human rights activist, and veteran fighter pilot. As a flight lieutenant, he fought in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and later, as a squadron leader, in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
During the 1965 war, Chaudhry and three other pilots, under the leadership of Wing Commander Anwar Shamim, attacked the Amritsar Radar Station in a difficult operation. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) for his actions during that mission.
Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordon Hall: During 1965 war, Hall served as the founding chairman of Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission and planned the dramatic adventure ‘Hercules Bomber’.
He received the Hilal-e-Jurat, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, and Sitara-e-Jurat for his services.
Shabbir Sharif: Rana Shabbir Sharif was a Pakistani Army officer. He is the only person to receive both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery.
He lost his life on December 6, 1971, in the line of action.
DEFENCE DAY 2019:
The day began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were also offered for the independence of occupied Kashmir as well as for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
The main ceremony for Defence Day was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, where Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa laid a wreath at the Martyrs Monument and observed a guard of honour.
A special ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal in Lahore where Major General Muhammad Amir laid a wreath on the mausoleum. A contingent of the Pakistan Army presented a guard of honour.
A special ceremony including the changing of the guards was also held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi.
To mark Defence Day and remember the shaheeds, former cricketer and philanthropist Shahid Afridi visited PAF’s Fighter Pilot Shaheed Marium Mukhtar’s house.
Taking to Twitter, Afridi shared pictures from his visit saying that “it was an amazing experience to hear about her bravery and courage, she will always be remembered.”
Born in May 1992, in Karachi, Mukhtiar hailed from a military family. Her father, a retired colonel of the Pakistan Army, inspired her to join the armed forces.
Marium graduated as a fighter pilot in 2007 with seven other female Pakistanis. She was on a routine training flight with her instructor Saqib Abbasi when her jet developed a fault and crashed at Kandian area in Bhakra near Mianwali on November 24, 2015. Even though Marium and her co-pilot ejected before the aircraft crashed, she suffered serious injuries which eventually lead to her demise.
The government of Pakistan posthumously honoured Marium with the Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct). A telefilm, Ek Thi Marium, starring Sanam Baloch in the lead was also made on her life.
Afridi on August 28 had appealed to his fellow countrymen to respond to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for Kashmir Hour and had announced then that he will visit the home of a shaheed on September 6.
Let’s respond to PM call for Kashmir Hour as a nation. I will be at Mazar e Quaid at 12 pm on Friday. Join me to express solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren. On 6 Sep I will visit home of a Shaheed. I will soon be visiting LOC.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has approved new projects worth Rs250 billion for uplifting of the country’s agriculture sector, Profitreported Friday.
As per the details, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that the aim of these projects is to enhance crop productivity and improve the means and resources for better farming.
“The government is fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the cotton growers and the fair prices for farmers would not only reduce their production cost but also encourage them to use more inputs and increase the crop area for enhanced productivity,” he added.
Ways to ensure competitive cotton prices for farmers in the coming season were also discussed in the meeting attended by office-bearers of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and Kissan Ittehad.
Contribution of the country’s major crops, including cotton, wheat, rice, maize and sugarcane, in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is almost 5.4 per cent.
Veteran actor, director and producer Abid Ali passed away in Karachi on Thursday after battling a liver disease for the past year. He was 67.
Ali’s funeral will be held after Friday prayers at Masjid-i-Ayesha in Bahria Town, Karachi and he will be laid to rest in the Bahria Town graveyard.
Abid Ali had a prolific career spanning several decades. Some of his most notable works include Waris (1978), Bunty, I Love You (2013), Diyar-e-Dil (2015) and Aangan (2018), Moorat (2004), Mehndi (2003) and Khawish (1989).
Celebrities, politicians and other media personalities took to Twitter to express their grief and remember the legend.
Deeply saddened to hear about Abid Ali sahab’s death. A legendary actor and a man with a heart of gold. May Allah bless him with jannat and give his family, fans and our industry the strength to bear this tremendous loss. We will miss you sir and your work will never be forgotten pic.twitter.com/nEKr3HYDO8
#Legendspk Abid ali sb .. the nation has lost one of its cultural hero’s. an artist who served with his art and craft and made permanent space in our hearts &mind . Our last salute to you sir may you rest in peace . ♥️⭐️
Extremely saddened to learn of the passing away of Abid Ali sahib. He was an incredibly powerful actor, great talent & a beautiful soul from Pakistan. Will miss him..
It is with great sadness,I heard of the passing of Abid Ali Sahib. A great actor, a great director &above all a wonderful human being. Many fond memories of working with him. His presence in the industry will be sorely missed. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannat.Ameen
A very sad day today as #AbidAli Saab is no more. Had the honor of sharing the screen with him in my first Drama Serial ‘Tajdeed e Wafa’ in which he played the character of my father. What a wonderful actor! May he rest in peace إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ pic.twitter.com/Dj4OSCn2zi
A teenager in Lahore has died after he was allegedly severely beaten by his school teacher.
Quoting the boy’s classmates, the police said that the teacher did this all because “he had failed to learn his lesson”.
The teacher has been arrested by the police and an FIR has been lodged against him and school. Meanwhile, the boy’s body has been shifted to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
As per reports, the boy was taken to the hospital from the school but could not be revived.
The FIR lodged by the victim’s father read “The school principal and administration had been mentally torturing my son for the past few days over non-payment of school fees.”
The deceased’s cousin took to social media to share the harrowing incident.
Hafiz hunain bilal was physically tortured by his teacher named Kamran Hashmi because he didn’t learn his lesson at school. The teacher struck the innocent child’s head with his knuckles and then banged his head against the wall. That inhumane being even kicked the poor soul.
According to the report, “The teacher punched him repeatedly, grabbed his hair and hit his head against the wall, all the while yelling at him.” As a result, the boy collapsed in the classroom and died.
Punjab’s Education Minister Dr Murad Raas has taken notice of the incident and has offered his “complete support” to the family.
My complete support is with you & your family in this extremely sad time. Teacher & Principal are in jail. My prayers are with you & your family. I am available for your concerns at any & all times. https://t.co/UOjaVlm0HH
Dr Murad Raas expressed his deep sorrow & grief over this tragic incident and assured the bereaved family that Justice would be served. The Minister reiterated the Department’s zero-tolerance policy towards corporal punishment of any kind in schools.
Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar also expressed his condolences to the family on their loss and said that he will personally monitor the case and ensure the teacher and school are dealt with as per the law.
Furthermore, upon my return from FATF review in Thailand, I will be meeting with relevant education ministers on the subject of corporal punishment and the need for review of laws against it and their enforcement.
After Islamabad, a digital “Curfew Clock” has been installed in front of the United Nations (UN) building in New York, showing the number of days, hours and minutes since India has kept occupied Kashmir under curfew.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi on Thursday night tweeted the pictures of a truck with the curfew clock screen, facing the UN building.
People of the Muslim-majority troubled valley have been held hostage by Indian occupying forces since August 5 when New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of its constitution to rob the disputed territory of its autonomy.
Last week on Saturday, Pakistan had installed a similar curfew clock in the federal capital as the country observed “Kashmir Hour” to express solidarity with the people of held Kashmir.
US President Donald Trump and Twitter King on August 30 tweeted out a photograph which he captioned: “The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran. I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One.”
The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran. I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One. pic.twitter.com/z0iDj2L0Y3
Internet sleuths immediately noticed the high resolution of the photograph and pegged it as likely ‘classified’. It is now declassified since the US President tweeted it. Many experts told news agencies that they were concerned that the declassified photo could reveal unknown information about US drone or satellite surveillance.
Amateur satellite trackers reverse-engineered the image and figured out that it likely came from the highly classified USA 224 satellite. USA 224 is suspected to be a KH-11 surveillance satellite, a classified piece of equipment about which the public knows little.
The only confirmed photos from a KH-11 satellite were leaked in 1984 by a Navy intelligence analyst who ended up serving two years in prison for espionage.
