Tag: home-politics

  • Imran draws flak for saying ‘Pakistan army, ISI trained Al Qaeda’

    Imran draws flak for saying ‘Pakistan army, ISI trained Al Qaeda’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has landed himself in hot water as netizens train guns at him for saying that “Pakistan army and intelligence agency trained global terror outfit Al Qaeda”.

    Speaking at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York on Monday, when asked if any investigation was conducted by Pakistan over Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden’s capture in Abbottabad by United States (US) forces, the premier said that there had been a probe.

    “I know that the Abbottabad commission sat down. I don’t know what the conclusion was. But I can tell you one thing. You see I go back again. The Pakistan army and ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] trained Al Qaeda and all these groups to fight in Afghanistan. There were always links between them. There has to be links because they trained them.”

    “Now as I said after the 9/11, when we did a 180-degree turn and went after those groups. You know not everyone agreed with it. Within the army, people did not agree with this. And so as I said there were insider attacks. There were two suicide attacks on General Musharraf.”

    “As far as I think, there was a statement by President Obama that Pakistan army, military and ISI had no idea about this because I know they were listening to the conversations the night the raid took place. And if there was any link, it was at a lower level,” he added.

    PM Imran’s statements were not very well received by Twitterati, mainly journalists, who took to the micro-blogging website to criticise him.

  • Corruption worth over Rs18bn discovered in PML-N’s motorway projects

    Corruption worth over Rs18bn discovered in PML-N’s motorway projects

    A recent audit of the National Highway Authority (NHA) has unearthed corruption worth Rs18.9 billion in three motorway projects completed during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government.

    According to a private media outlet, a report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed the irregularities in the Karachi-Lahore, Sukkur-Multan and Havelian-Thakot motorways.

    Irregularities of over Rs7.31 billion were discovered in Lahore’s Abdul Hakeem section of the Karachi-Lahore Motorway, Rs4.9 billion in the Sukkur-Multan section, while those worth Rs6.7 billion were unearthed in the Havelian-Thakot section.

    The report mentions that the contractors reduced the scope of work, however, the cost was not revised. It added that the contractors did not return the extra amount to the NHA.

    The AGP also mentioned that the first notification about the problem was sent to NHA in September last year. Responding to the report, NHA spokesperson Mushtaq Ahmed said that any excess payment made during the projects will be recovered.

  • President Alvi spotted picking up trash on hiking trip

    President Alvi spotted picking up trash on hiking trip

    In a photo shared by his son on Twitter, President Dr Arif Alvi has been spotted picking up trash on his hiking trip with family in Changla Gali mountain resort town of Galyat.

    According to the details, the president was seen collecting garbage in a trash bag and then disposing it of in a bin by the side of a road.

    “During our treks, we usually take trash bags, but accidentally forgot them, next time will do more [sic],” the president’s son, Awab Alvi, wrote and added that Pakistanis should “behave like responsible tourists when they visit such beautiful places in the country”.

    He further said that it was sad to see “tourists taking treks, but leaving plastic bottles on the ground when they left”. 

  • Kashmir crisis: Modi govt to open 50,000 temples in held valley

    In another attempt to turn majority-Muslim Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) into majority-Hindu, the Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi-led government has decided to re-open around 50,000 temples in the held valley, Samaa TV reported.

    According to the details, Indian Minister for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy has announced opening the temples and said that a survey has been ordered to reopen or rebuild all the temples closed or destroyed over the years.

    The move comes amid fears that the Hindu nationalist government in India abrogated Article 370 of its constitution to pave way for a Muslim genocide in the disputed territory.

    The Supreme Court of India (SCI) had earlier ordered the government to restore normalcy in IoK “as soon as possible while keeping in mind national safety and security”.

    The court had further ordered the government to submit a report mentioning the actual situation in the region that has been lockdown with communication blackout.

    People of the Muslim-majority troubled valley have been held hostage by Indian occupying forces since August 5 when New Delhi abrogated the article to rob the disputed territory of its autonomy.

  • ‘The entire world wants to meet me, but I want to meet Imran Khan’

    ‘The entire world wants to meet me, but I want to meet Imran Khan’

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (PM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Development Zulfi Bukhari has quoted United States (US) President Donald Trump as saying that “the entire world wants to meet him, but he wants to meet Imran Khan”.

    “Trump said that Imran Khan is a world leader whom he has faith in,” Bukhari said while speaking to a private media outlet after the two leaders’ meeting in New York on Monday night.

    He said it was a proud moment for Pakistanis all around the globe, and that the Pakistani community was overjoyed to have PM Imran with them in the US.

    “Trump has also said that the US has increased trade with Pakistan by 5 per cent and working to improve Pak-US ties will help in generating employment opportunities.”

    IMRAN MEETS TRUMP:

    Earlier, the premier met US president on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 74th session in a televised event.

    The two spoke about the ongoing situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), with PM Imran telling Trump that he felt that it was “the beginning of a crisis”.

    Addressing the US president and the reporters, he said, “Trump heads the most powerful country in the world. And the most powerful country in the world has a responsibility.

    “I honestly feel that this crisis could become much bigger. We look to the US to put out flames in the world,” Imran said.

    Responding to PM Imran’s concerns, Trump said “he thinks he would be an extremely good arbitrator”.

    “I’ve done it before, believe it or not. And I’ve never failed as an arbitrator. I’ve been asked to arbitrate disputes — pretty big ones — from… friends. And I’ve done it in a good, successful fashion. If I can be of help, you know that, if I can be of help, let me know,” he added.

    The US president said his predecessors did not trust Pakistan but that he did. “I trust Pakistan, but people before me didn’t, but they didn’t know what they were doing.”

    “You know what I do? I trust this gentleman right here and I do trust Pakistan,” he noted while referring to PM Imran. “I will tell you this… you have a great leader. He’s a good man… a nice man. Happens to be a great athlete.”

  • Physics practical score of Chohan’s son increased illegally, probe reveals

    The marks scored in a Physics practical by ex-Punjab information minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan’s son, Fahad Hassan, were illegally increased from 14 to 30, an inquiry report has revealed.

    According to the report, the head examiner, Associate Professor Saleem Ramzan, misused his authority and increased the marks of the former minister’s son against the will of every other examiner.

    The report has been forwarded to the higher education secretary for further investigation against the head examiner.

    Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Board Chairman Dr Ghulam Dastagheer has said that Fahad’s result will be released after seeking legal advice from the authorities concerned.

    Earlier, Fahad had scored 769 marks in 12th class examinations and later submitted an application for re-checking of his papers. He had allegedly pressurised the board chairman to increase his marks from 14 to 30.

    The chairman had allegedly obliged the minister by increasing his son’s marks and also changed the award-list himself.

    The Rawalpindi board controller examinations, after being informed about the situation, had stopped the result and formed a two-member inquiry committee on the request of the board chairman.

    The board chairman had said that anyone found guilty of alleged tampering with the result should be dealt with strictly as per law. “The Physics practical was conducted on July 17, while I assumed the charge as board chairman on July 18,” he had said while clarifying his position.

    In a video message, Punjab Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan had said that he had nothing to do with the episode and had requested the board controller examinations to conduct an inquiry.

    He had also presented himself for the inquiry.

  • 200 kgs of dead frogs recovered, were to be used by Lahore eateries?

    200 kgs of dead frogs recovered, were to be used by Lahore eateries?

    After the entire donkey meat episode, Lahore police have recovered 200 kgs of dead frogs, which reports claim were to be used in burgers and shawarmas across the provincial capital of Punjab.

    According to a newspaper clipping doing rounds on social media, police caught a rickshaw loaded with 200 kgs of dead frogs being transported to an unknown location.

    Patrolling in the New Ravi Bridge area, police noticed a shady rickshaw carrying a heavy sack, the report said and added that when the cops attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects tried to flee.

    https://twitter.com/AliAsad_Abbas/status/1176034925788762112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1176034925788762112&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.natcour.com%2Fnews%2F2019%2F09%2Flahore-frog%2F

    Managing to stop the rickshaw, the police took two people, namely Shahid and Manzoor, into custody for allegedly delivering dead frogs to restaurants across the city.

    An investigation is underway to determine what the frogs were to be used for, while suspects claim they were “only delivering the frogs to a medical college”. Medical students dissect the frogs and practice suturing on them.

    Other reports claim the police only stopped the men because they thought the frogs were of some rare species. Having the frogs is not a crime and neither the police nor the Punjab Wildlife Department has any issue with the case. “The men were released and were free to go with their frogs.”

  • Irregularities worth Rs97b detected in Pakistan Railways

    Irregularities worth Rs97b detected in Pakistan Railways

    The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has detected billions of rupees worth of irregularities in Pakistan Railways (PR), exposing gross mismanagement within the state-run transport service that continues to incur losses, The Express Tribune reported Monday.

    In his report for 2018-19, the top auditor pointed out
    irregularities that amount to a whopping Rs97 billion and later directed PR
    authorities to take action against those responsible for the massive loss to
    the national exchequer.

    “Pakistan Railways generated Rs49.6 billion in the last
    fiscal year against operational costs worth Rs85.5 billion. As a result, the
    state-run service had to bear a loss of Rs36.6 billion,” the report said.

    Of the audit objections noted in the report, 56 per cent
    pertain to PR lands, 20 per cent pertain to recoveries and 12 per cent pertain
    to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The remainder concern losses
    from theft, fiscal irregularities and embezzlement.

    The report also revealed that Pakistan Railways suffered a
    loss of nearly Rs15 billion due to the failure of its management to recover
    dues from other federal government wings, like the Port Qasim Authority,
    Pakistan Post, Water and Power Development Authority and the departments of
    irrigation, food and education, and provincial and district authorities.

    It pointed out that maladministration in the Railways Ministry cost a PSDP project Rs10.5 billion. It also noted that the PR administration had granted a contract worth Rs3.2 billion in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) rules.

    “Railways authorities also unable to recover Rs2.6 billion
    from provincial governments to repair level crossings and wasted Rs2 billion
    worth of scrap as well,” the report added.

    Delays in the repair of damaged railway coaches also cost
    the state-run service nearly Rs2 billion, the report pointed out. It also made
    note of Rs380 million worth of ‘fake expenditure’ in the repair process. The
    AGP also criticised PR authorities for losing Rs3.8 billion due to inaction
    while auctioning off railways roads and steel.

    A staggering Rs52 billion worth of irregularities in the
    state-run transport service occurred at the administrative level, the AGP’s
    report mentioned. Another Rs50 billion in losses were a result of embezzlement,
    fraud and theft. Around Rs6.5 billion were lost due to PPRA rule violations.

  • As dengue cases cross 10,000 mark, Punjab govt has a ‘dua’ for people

    As dengue cases cross 10,000 mark, Punjab govt has a ‘dua’ for people

    With the number of dengue cases in the country reaching five-digits and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza warning of a further increase within the next 10 days, Punjab government has come up with a spiritual cure.

    Sharing an Arabic phrase in a “public service message” — posters of which have been pasted across Toba Tek Singh — the city’s deputy commissioner has advised people to read the dua every day and paste the pamphlet outside their houses and workplace to ward off evil dengue.

    The dengue virus is spreading in different parts of the country due to the negligence of provincial governments. Despite many warnings issued by health experts before the season, no adequate arrangements were made by the departments concerned to tackle the issue.

    In Pakistan, there is no specific vaccine available to treat dengue and with scanty arrangments made by the government, it is likely that in the days to come, the situation will only get worse.

  • PM Imran flew to US on MBS’ private jet

    PM Imran flew to US on MBS’ private jet

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently in the United States for the 74th session United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), flew from Saudi Arabia to New York in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) private jet.

    According to reports, when MBS inquired from PM Khan how he will be travelling to the US, the premier told him that he will be taking a commercial flight. MBS is reported to have responded, “How can you take a commercial flight, you are our special guest,” adding that he cannot let his guest travel via a commercial flight.

    The Crown Prince then arranged for his private jet to fly PM Khan from Madinah to New York. Meanwhile, some media outlets reported that PM Khan flew in a Saudi Airlines chartered plane.

    The PM was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfikar Abbas Bokhari.

    PM Khan arrives in New York

    PM Khan reached New York on September 21. He is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on September 23 and will address the UNGA on September 27, where he will raise the matter of Kashmir.