Tag: Pakistan

  • Court reserves verdict on Practice and Procedure Act 2023

    Court reserves verdict on Practice and Procedure Act 2023

    The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its decision on petitions that challenge the 2023 SC (Practice and Procedure) Act, which restricts the authority of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa led the full-court bench consisting of Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali are hearing the case.

    “We will discuss amongst ourselves [now]. If there is a consensus, then we will announce it, otherwise, the decision will be reserved,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said at the end of today’s hearing.

    During the hearing, the CJP emphasised the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship between the Parliament and the SC.

    “Do not pit the Parliament and Supreme Court against each other,” he remarked, insisting on the idea of “live and let live”.

    “Why do we see each other’s institutions negatively? Why can’t it be said that one institution legislated for the betterment of another?” CJP Isa questioned.

    All the petitioners, including all political parties, concluded their arguments in today’s hearing. The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, also gave his arguments today.

  • Lahore High Court issues directives on safety, environmental hazards

    Lahore High Court issues directives on safety, environmental hazards

    Lahore High Court has issued a written order pertaining to environmental problems and safety hazards on roads.

    The court order said that those who use green belts for parking should be fined Rs 5,000, forwarding the order to all housing societies and authorities concerned.

    The court has also ordered the shutting down of polluting brick kilns, and filing criminal cases against the officials who do not take action against the kilns.

    Additionally, the court ordered the CTO to impose a fine of Rs 2,000 on motorcycle riders without helmets and this order will be enforced across the province.

    The Dolphin police have also been directed to keep a check on people in case of violation of the latest orders.

    Reforestation

    The Lahore High Court also shed light on the importance of reforestation, pointing at the Miyawaki model where more urban forests should be planted.

    To ensure that they meet the necessary environmental standards, the LDA will be closely working with the Environment Department while planning and executing development projects.

    Additionally, strict action is to be taken against kilns emitting black smoke which is one of the major contributors to poor air quality.

  • Weather Report: Rains and snowfall to descend from the west

    Weather in the country is about to change as highlighted by weather expert Jawad Memon. A system from the western region of Iran will enter the country via Balochistan between October 16 to 21, Memon said.

    The system will bring rains to different parts of the country including Punjab, and central and upper Sindh regions. Drizzle might take place in southern Sindh, especially in Karachi. Moreover, this will prompt the first snowfall of the season in the northern areas.

    He further added that the second system will cause more than usual rains in the coming winter season.

  • Director of Punjab Local Fund Audit alleged to be involved in corruption case of Rs400 million

    Director of Punjab Local Fund Audit alleged to be involved in corruption case of Rs400 million

    Amir Saeed, a Grade 17 officer working as the director of the Punjab Local Fund Audit Department at a Grade 20 level with the approval of the relevant authorities, is facing allegations of receiving kickbacks while supposedly conducting audits of different local government departments during his tenure from 2019 to 2022, SAMMA has reported. 

    The report indicates that Saeed used his position and influence to dishonestly obtain benefits from officials by employing various deceitful methods, such as making recommendations for officials to attend training programmes, handling pension disbursements, arranging transfers and postings, and manipulating record-checking procedures.

    Numerous complaints were filed against Saeed, accusing him of corruption and unethical practices. These complaints have been lodged with several authorities, including the Prime Minister’s Complaint Cell, the Anti-Corruption Establishment, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and various other forums.

    In spite of the allegations and the evidence put forward, no significant action has been taken up to this point.

    Nevertheless, an investigation into the accusations was initiated by the director general of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment in 2022. This inquiry also failed to produce any outcomes, allowing Saeed to avoid being held accountable.

    At present, Amir Saeed holds the position of an auditor at Arfa Karim University, although his rank has been reduced from 20 to 17.

  • Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    People waiting for their new passports will have to wait a bit longer. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passport has reportedly run out of lamination papers for new passports.

    As per Samaa, sources have said that the relevant authorities did not take timely measures to ensure a sufficient supply of lamination paper. Last week, there was no improvement in the supply chain, and there is now a fear that the printing and delivery of new passports will be affected across the country.

    One of the immediate consequences of the lamination paper shortage is an expected increase in the duration of passport delivery. For instance, the delivery of passports with a normal fee will likely be extended to approximately one month. This delay poses significant challenges for applicants across the country, especially those with urgent travel plans.

    Despite the alleged non-availability of lamination paper, the passport department continues to accept new applications, further fueling concerns that the number of pending passports will surge due to printing problems.

    As of now, the passport department has not issued an official statement on the matter, leaving many in the dark about when the shortage of lamination paper will be resolved and how long the delays will persist.

    The shortage of lamination paper is causing substantial disruptions in passport issuance, and it is vital for the authorities to swiftly address this issue and keep the public informed about their efforts to resolve the problem. The impact of this situation on individuals urgently needing to travel for various reasons underscores the urgency of resolving the issue promptly to minimize inconvenience for applicants.

  • Court summons Sara Inam’s husband

    Court summons Sara Inam’s husband

    The district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Shahnawaz Amir on October 12 in Sara Inam’s murder case.

    Shahnawaz Amir, the husband of the murdered Sara I am, will record his statement at the court. The orders for the same were passed by Judge Azam Khan on Tuesday after recording the statements of the investigation officer and prosecution witnesses in the murder case.

    The son of politician and analyst Ayaz Amir, Shahnawaz Amir allegedly murdered his wife by smashing her head with a dumbbell.
    His testimony will be recorded under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), according to which the judge can question the suspect at any stage of the trial.

    “For the purpose of enabling the accused to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him, the court may at any stage of any inquiry or trial without previously warning the accused, put such questions to him as the Court considers necessary, and shall, for the purpose aforesaid, question him generally on the case after the witness for the prosecution have been examined and before he is called on for his defence.”

    Investigation officer Habibur Rehman claimed that he did not fabricate any evidence nor commit any negligence.

    He said that Ayaz Amir and his wife, Samina Shah, were also mentioned as susoects in the FIR.

    According to the challan, Shahnawaz Amir told the police that the couple had a heated telephonic argument when Sara Inam did not send him money and that Amir divorced her on the call.

    When Sara Inam came to Islamabad from Abu Dhabi on September 22, she argued with him, asking him to return the money she sent him.

    He injured her after hitting her with a decoration piece after which Sara Inam “started making noise”. Amir then hit her a number of times on the head with the dumbbell.

    Habibur Rehman also said that the Police reached Farm House 46 in Chak Shahzad where the murder was committed after the registration of FIR.

    Sara Inam’s body was taken to the hospital for post-mortem and was kept in the mortuary because her parents were not in Pakistan.

    The police retrieved the blood-stained dumbbell, passports, nikahnama, and mobile phones from the room of the accused.

  • Last solar eclipse of 2023: Will the ‘Ring of Fire’ be visible in Pakistan?

    The second and last solar eclipse of 2023 will take place by the end of the first fortnight of the month of October.

    According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) the eclipse will start at 8:04 pm on Oct 14 and end at 1:55am on Oct 15.

    Unfortunately, it will not be visible anywhere in Pakistan.

    However, the eclipse will be visible in southwestern Mexico, countries in Central America, while also being visible in central Columbia and northern Brazil.

    Ring of Fire

    Solar eclipse happens when the moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth. This is how it appears smaller and does not block out the entire Sun when it passes in front of Earth, leaving behind a bright ring of Sun visible at the eclipse’s peak, creating the ring of fire effect.

  • ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has told his enemies that “elections are near” and he has passed all “exams of life”, Geo has reported.

    While addressing a dinner party given by PPP leader Ghulam Qadir Mari in Naushero Feroz district on Tuesday, Zardari said, “I was born in this land (Sindh), and I will continue to strive for the development of this land.”

    The PPP co-chairman also said that he is the son of soil and will always struggle for it.

    “The PPP has always served the people. I have struggled all my life, and my workers have also supported me,” said the former president, adding, “We know each other. Allah gave us the opportunity, so we served the people and this soil. I have to be buried in this soil. It is our duty to serve it.”

    The PPP leader also mentioned that he gave Pashtuns their separate identity, and by bringing the 18th Amendment, his party gave provincial service.

    Recounting the sacrifices of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said, “Today, I am serving you, then Bilawal Bhutto will serve, as will Aseefa Bhutto. We are all with the people of Sindh.”

  • Chartered plane booked for Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21

    Chartered plane booked for Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will travel on a chartered plane to reach Pakistan from Dubai on October 21.

    According to a report filed by Geo News, the flight carrying Nawaz will be named ‘Umeed-e-Pakistan’. It can carry approximately 150 passengers.

    The former prime minister will leave Dubai for Pakistan on October 21, along with senior and close party members. Nawaz Sharif’s flight will land in Islamabad for a 30 minute long stay, with the PML-N supremo then flying to Lahore to address a gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan.

    Before the final leg of the journey, Nawaz Sharif will reach Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and perform Umrah there. He will stay in Saudi Arabia for a week and hold important meetings.

    Earlier, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said there is no chance of Nawaz’s arrest upon his arrival in the country.

    Dar also said that PML-N’s narrative will be about the economy, adding that, “recovery of the economy is the best revenge.”

  • Peshawar students to campaign against use of drugs in educational institutions

    Peshawar students to campaign against use of drugs in educational institutions

    The students of the University of Agriculture in Peshawar have decided on starting a mission to prevent use of drugs in educational institutions.

    According to reports, the administration has become active to protect the students of the University of Agriculture from drugs. The Anti-Drug Awareness Committee held a meeting at the campus.

    According to experts present at the meeting, drugs give temporary relief by increasing hormones, but later they cause permanent destruction; adding that the addict becomes a burden on his family and society.

    The students have decided to join hands with the government and social organisations to play an active role in the anti-drug campaign.

    According to the report of a non-governmental organisation, 7.6 million people use drugs in Pakistan, including 78% men and 22% women.