Tag: Gilgit-Baltistan

  • Monsoon in Pakistan: What is the situation now?

    Monsoon in Pakistan: What is the situation now?

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned Sindh of another monsoon spell this week from Thursday (July 14) till Monday (July 18). It is also said that sea conditions will also remain “rough to very rough” during this timeframe.

    The Met department also said that torrential rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities. It has also advised that travellers and tourists remain cautious during the forecast period.

    Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman shared a rain update on her Twitter, saying: “Sindh and Balochistan still under heavy monsoon pressure for the last 13 days. Sindh is 625 per cent above the 30-year average while Balochistan is 501.”

    Action taken by the authorities:

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has claimed that rainwater from 90 per cent of the city has been drained out and roads have been cleared.

    Meanwhile, K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana tweeted, “Wherever possible power has been restored, however, few parts of DHA remain severely water logged like Bukhari Commercial seen below (as of 10:00 PM 12th July). Power in inundated areas expected to be restored once water recedes to safe operating levels.”

    On Sunday, the Sindh government imposed a rain emergency in Karachi after severe rain. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa took an aerial view of Karachi on Tuesday to oversee the catastrophic situation.

    The Pakistan Navy is also taking part in the relief and rescue operations.

    Destruction

    According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Sindh Police, 49 people have died in the province, 31 in Karachi alone, in the monsoon spell from July 4 to July 12.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), at least six people were killed in Swabi, Mardan, South Waziristan and Bajaur districts. The rains also damaged the crops and infrastructure. Swabi, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Nowshera and Malakand were the worst affected.

    Six people died and dozens of houses collapsed throughout over Eid across Balochistan. Many areas across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) were cut off from each other after roads, bridges, electricity supply and properties were damaged due to the melting glaciers.

  • Tourists stranded at Babusar Top after heavy snowfall

    Tourists stranded at Babusar Top after heavy snowfall

    Heavy snowfall in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Babusar Top area has trapped many tourists including their vehicles.

    According to the government, up to 3 inches of snow have fallen on the Babusar Top and emergency teams have been sent to the area to evacuate tourists who have got stuck in their vehicles. Passengers and visitors are advised to avoid using the highway until further notice.

    Heavy snowfall is continuing at Babusar Top, according to the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary, and the Babusar-Naran National Highway has been momentarily closed for all kinds of traffic.

    More than 50 vehicles, carrying lots of passengers and visitors, were evacuated at Babusar Top due to snowfall and harsh weather, as per rescue personnel. The rescued tourists were taken to Babusar Centre.

    Periodic snowfall is continuing at Babusar Top, according to rescue officials, while the mercury has fallen below freezing.

  • Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has issued a notification on Saturday in which it directed the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to exercise “extreme vigilance”.

    The notification alert has asked LEAs of all provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to tighten security measures to prevent any unforeseen terror attacks.

    “… In view of recent terrorist attack in Anarkali Bazar, Lahore and threat posed by activities of anti-state elements, all provincial and special area governments/Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to exercise extreme vigilance and be on alert to deal with any untoward situation,” the notification said.

    On January 17, militants opened fire on a police checkpoint in the vicinity of the Karachi Company Police Station in Islamabad. The incident resulted in a policeman’s death and two injuries. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility.

    After this incident, Interior Minister, Sheikh Rasheed has also warned of more terrorism-related incidents in Islamabad and said that the capital’s police and other forces are on alert.

    However, another terror attack on January 20 took place in which terrorists targeted the famous Anarkali market in Lahore. Three people died and 28 people got injured in the Lahore bomb blast. An investigation is still underway.

    Sheikh Rasheed also faced criticism from the Opposition for rising terrorism activities in the country. One of the senators from the Opposition commented that he “not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing during the last nine months”.

  • Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Several pictures and videos of an ice hockey match played by young girls in Hunza’s Altit are circulating on Twitter and one thing that caught most Twitterati’s attention was Canadian High Commissioner Wendy Gilmour refereeing the match. The pictures have led to praise for the Canadian diplomat for encouraging winter sports in Pakistan and advocating for female athletes.

    Pamir Times, a community news portal of Gilgit and the surrounding mountain areas, shared pictures and videos of the ice hockey match on Twitter, making note of the high commissioner refereeing the match.

    Taking to Twitter, Gilmore called it “an amazing match”. She congratulated Altit’s Sports Club And Rising Federation for organising the fourth Winterlude festival. Addressing the young players from Hunza and Chitral she said “my colleagues and I had a blast!”

    Pakistani Twitter was flooding the post with love and praise. They were thankful to the High Commisioner for coming and promoting winter sports, especially for girls.

    https://twitter.com/seeyabasad/status/1482480145889964035?s=20

    https://twitter.com/OmarBinMuaz1/status/1482710749902356480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1482710749902356480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1189267

    As per Radio Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan Minister for Tourism and Culture Raja Nasir Ali Khan, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of ice hockey and ice skating competitions in Hunza, had said the government is focusing on promoting winter sports in the area.

    The minister assured that strenuous efforts are being made for the inclusion of Hunza ice hockey teams in international competitions.

  • Three year prison sentence, fine for false moon-sighting witnesses: bill

    Three year prison sentence, fine for false moon-sighting witnesses: bill

    The moon-sighting issue in Pakistan is a socio-religious challenge as many religious events(Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha) are directly related to it. In a bid to put an end to the moon sighting controversies around key festivals like Eid, the Pakistan government is imposing a three years imprisonment and a Rs 50,000 fine for anyone who announces the false moon sighting before the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan introduced the Pakistan Ruet Hilal Bill 2021 on behalf of the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri.

    The proposed bill mainly aims to tackle the formation of a Federal Ruet Hilal committee, led by recognised Ulema and scholars from all sects and schools of thought which has a history of announcing Eid and the start of Ramazan.

    The bill authorises only the chairperson of the federal committee or his nominee to make an announcement regarding the sighting of the moon. The bill proposes a fine of up to Rs50,000 for anyone violating the law.

    The federal committee, according to the bill, will comprise 16 members, including the chairperson. The federal committee will consist of two Ulema from each province and Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir; a grade-20 officer from Met Office, a science and technology expert and a representative of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and an officer of the level of director general from the Ruet Hilal Affairs division of the ministry, who will act as the secretary of the committee.

    The bill has suggested a complete ban on any other committee formed by individuals under any name for sighting of the moon for commencement of each Islamic Hijri calendar month.

  • ‘Used’:Rana Shamim in trouble as court frame charges against ex-judge

    ‘Used’:Rana Shamim in trouble as court frame charges against ex-judge

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday set January 7, 2022, as the date for framing charges against former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim and others in a case related to an affidavit that accuses former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar of colluding to deny bails to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership prior to the 2018 elections.

    During the hearing today, CJ IHC Athar Minallah observed that Shamim’s written response submitted to the court had “laid the entire blame” on journalist Ansar Abbasi [the journalist who published the story accusing CJP Nisar], recalling that the former jurist had also maintained that he had not shared the affidavit with anyone.

    He added that in similar circumstances, courts in the United Kingdom asked journalists to disclose their sources but the IHC would not do so.

    “The judge [mentioned in] the affidavit was on leave at the time. Attempts were also made to cast doubt on the two judges on the bench,” Justice Minallah said.

    Justice Minallah said the matter had “nothing to do” with the former CJP. “Go and do what you want to do with Mian Saqib Nisar,” he remarked.

    He recalled that proceedings had started because of an attempt to cast suspicion on judges of the high court. “[This] perception is being created which everyone has started believing as true,” Justice Minallah said.

    “Where was that perception when bail was granted two weeks later by this same court?” he questioned.

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan said that the concerned document was very important in contempt of court case. Shamim’s counsel, Lateef Afridi, responded that Shamim had said the affidavit was a “private document” and was written at his wife’s request.

    “By now, even Rana Shamim must have come to know how sensitive this issue is,” Justice Minallah remarked.

    “Contempt of court cases were initiated against Firdous Ashiq Awan in [the IHC] and Imran Khan in the Supreme Court. What happened in those cases? Such cases are initiated and the court has to show mercy,” Afridi responded.

    Afridi said Shamim “did not know about the affidavit’s consequences when he wrote it”. The judge reiterated his question about who the beneficiaries were to which Afridi again responded that he did know and requested the court to not waste time on the issue since there were other cases pending.

    The chief justice remarked, “What if Kulbhushan Jadhav (Indian spy) submitted an affidavit saying his case should not be heard by this court since it is compromised? This is a serious matter. Understand the consequences of this affidavit.”

    Meanwhile, journalist Ansar Abbasi said that he had talked to Shamim a day before the report was published. “Rana Shamim also [messaged] me that what I read out was correct,” the journalist said.

    Subsequently, the attorney general requested the court to indict Shamim and others. Terming Shamim responsible since he was the one who wrote the affidavit, the AG said the ex-judge had committed contempt of court.

    “Since the past three days, there are [reports] that the affidavit was written in someone’s office. It is surprising that no denial has come forth,” the AG said.

    Shamim’s counsel responded that the matter had been denied in a TV interview. However, the AGP argued that no denials were made by those related to the matter.

    “Rana Shamim should accept that he was used and apologise. If he does, then I too will [ask the court] to not take action. If he doesn’t apologise, then set a date quickly for indictment,” the AG requested the court.

    Subsequently, the court set January 7, 2022, as the date for framing charges.

  • ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party

    Advocate Ahmed Hasan Rana, son of former chief judge Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim, has announced the formation of his own political party.

    In a video shared by journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Ahmed can be seen saying, “This [party] is only on WhatsApp right now, we have not officially registered it. Like-minded people, my friends from my school, college, and the university have got together to form this [political] party.”

    “Its name is Shaan-e-Pakistan, but there is some time required to launch it. We need funds. We are trying to establish it on our own, and trying our best to generate funds on our own. [We don’t want that we get stuck] like Imran Khan sahib,” said Ahmed.

    Talking about his strategy in running his political party, Ahmed said that he idolises the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said he will not bring a different political manifesto than the prime minister.

    “There should be a Madina ki riyasat, education should be free, there should be ease of doing business. One really needs to do things and not just talk,” said Ahmed.

    “Imran Khan has been trying but could not deliver from the past three years. All he says is ghabrana nahi hai [don’t worry]. He has failed to make a single policy,” added Ahmed.

    When asked how differently will Ahmed perform than the premier he said, ” I am a lawyer and we are told to make a policy first, implementation comes second.”

    “Khan sahib is doing the same as his predecessors Benazir and Nawaz, he is asking for another chance. I can do better than Khan sahib, I am certain of it,” said Ahmed.

    Ahmed was still drinking his famous “juice” while conversing about his future political plans.

  • ECP slaps Rs50,000 fine on Gandapur for violating election code of conduct

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fined Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur for violating the code of conduct of the upcoming local government elections in the country, reports Geo News.

    Following complaints about the minister, Dera Ismail Khan Regional Election Commissioner Ijaz Ahmad, who is also the district monitoring officer for the local government polls, had summoned Gandapur earlier this week.

    The regional election commissioner said that this matter could lead to disqualification if the minister was found involved in any violation of the ECP rules for the second time. The order issued by Ahmed stated: “The respondent was heard where his arguments could not satisfy the undersigned. He also accepted the violation of the code of conduct. The undersigned orders imposition of Rs50,000 fine on the respondent that is to be deposited in the exchequer by December 10.”

    According to Dawn, Gandapur, while addressing a rally during the election campaign of his brother Umar Amin Gandapur, had threatened the Opposition with serious consequences.

    The local government elections are set to take place on December 19 in 17 districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

  • AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London

    AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan asked Rana Shamim, the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, to arrange the delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to the Pakistan High Commission in London, reports Dawn.

    The AGP asked Shamim to arrange the delivery of his affidavit “at the earliest” so that it could be forwarded to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The High Court had observed that in case the original affidavit was not produced on the due date, it would raise an assumption of its non-existence.

    The AGP forwarded a copy of his letter to Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and the country’s High Commissioner in London.

    Meanwhile, United Kingdom (UK) oath commissioner Charles Guthrie, who authenticated the affidavit of Shamim, has claimed the affidavit’s authenticity, and also said that he was ready to appear before at any legal forum, including the IHC, for confirmation.

  • Islamabad Court Chief Justice says remarks about retired judges, ex-CJP not contempt of court

    Islamabad Court Chief Justice says remarks about retired judges, ex-CJP not contempt of court

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed on Friday, that remarks about retired officials did not warrant contempt of court charges, even if they were made against a former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Justice Minallah made the observation during a hearing to decide the maintainability of a petition, filed by Advocate Kulsoom Khaliq, seeking contempt proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for trying to scandalise the judiciary through their statements against the former CJP Saqib Nisar.

    On November 15, Abbasi demanded that a suo motu notice be taken against Nisar after the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim accused Nisar of being involved in denying bail to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam ahead of the 2018 general elections.

    Abbasi, questioning the lawmakers, said, “If Mian Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, why can’t Mian Saqib Nisar?”

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said in his written order that a judge who ceases to hold a judicial office “attains the status of a private citizen”.

    “Such a person is no more a member of the ‘Court’ in the context of Article 204 of the Constitution nor under the Ordinance of 2003,” Justice Minallah wrote.

    “It remains open to a retired judicial officer to seek remedies available in a court of law. However, the offence of contempt is not attracted in the case of a retired judge because after retirement the latter attains the status of a private citizen,” wrote Justice Minallah.

    He insisted that judges were open-minded about criticism, saying, “Judges hold a very high position and they should welcome criticism.”