Tag: Pakistan

  • Shehbaz Sharif, son were focus of UK’s money-laundering investigation

    Shehbaz Sharif, son were focus of UK’s money-laundering investigation

    The United Kingdom’s (UK) anti-corruption force National Crime Agency (NCA) told the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 19, 2019, that it needed Assets Freezing Orders (AFO’s) to initiate a high-profile investigation into former Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Suleman Sharif to “prove or disprove” their alleged involvement in money-laundering, fraud, corrupt practices and misuse of public office for the purposes of money-laundering, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for The News.

    It was reported in November last year that the NCA has ended a major money-laundering investigation into Shehbaz Sharif and his son Suleman without any further action and unfreezing of the assets after finding no evidence of criminal conduct, money-laundering and abuse of public office. It was then claimed by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s adviser on accountability Shehzad Akbar that Shehbaz Sharif was not part of the investigation because his name was not part of the Order that set aside the AFO’s.

    The NCA told the court: “This application is in respect of funds held in the name of or associated to, Suleman Shahbaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif (officer note: frequently referred to as Shehbaz Sharif/Shahbaz Sharif).”

    The NCA said it suspected that the money that was transferred to Carter Ruck’s account was “in fact deemed to be associated to Suleman Sharif”. After the court granted AFO’s to NCA, further steps were taken to seek access to Shehbaz Sharif’s accounts at Barclays Bank and Habib Bank’s London branch as part of the “Frozen Funds” investigation.

    The NCA officer told the court it suspected that “the funds which are intended to be frozen are derived from this criminal conduct in Pakistan, namely accrued from the Sharif Group or by Shehbaz Sharif during his time as Chief Minister of Punjab. I suspect that this represents an active attempt by Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Sharif to launder the proceeds of their criminality into the UK”.

    In introducing to the court who Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Sharif were and why it intended to investigate them for the alleged criminal conduct of money-laundering, the NCA explained to the judge that Shehbaz Sharif is a “Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and has held a series of political appointments in Pakistan from the early 90s onwards, including president of the PML-N, Chief Minister of Punjab, and leader of the opposition provincial assembly of the Punjab”.

    It’s pertinent to mention that the NCA relied heavily on Daily Mail’s article by David Rose dated July 14, 2019, which he had published after visiting Pakistan for several days where he was given access to detainees who allegedly did money-laundering for the Sharifs.

    David Rose had claimed: “Britain’s National Crime Agency is working closely with Pakistani investigators and Home Secretary Sajid Javid is discussing the possible extradition of members of Shahbaz’s family who have taken refuge in London.”

    Shehzad Akbar had confirmed to David Rose in the same article: “We are working closely with the National Crime Agency and the Home Office. We are grateful for this assistance and we hope it will ensure that theft and money-laundering of this magnitude will never happen again.” The NCA told the court: “The Assets Recovery Unit  (ARU) was created by PM Imran Khan to assist in the recovery of criminal assets to the state of Pakistan. This letter has confirmed that Shehbaz Sharif is currently under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s autonomous federal and anti-corruption agency, and was granted bail by the Accountability Court on February 14, 2019.”

    The NCA informing the court why it’s working with the ARU on these cases, said: “The ARU was created by PM Imran Khan under the leadership of his accountability advisor, a barrier and member of the Pakistan cabinet. The ARU was created to break down inter-agency barriers, combine in one pace the discrete powers of the federal agencies; and, prioritise asset recovery in the interests of the govt of Pakistan. The unit is formed of representatives from the NAB, FIA, FBR, and the State Bank of Pakistan.”

    The NCA investigation continued into Shehbaz Sharif for almost two years as the NCA went back nearly 15 years to investigate Shehbaz Sharif’s accounts and financial affairs and found no evidence of criminal conduct or fraud. The investigation was shut down in November 2021 after the NCA failed to establish that Shehbaz Sharif and his family were involved in any kind of wrongdoing, effectively giving Shehbaz Sharif a clean chit.

  • Pakistan announces squad for Test series against Australia

    Pakistan announces squad for Test series against Australia

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 16 players and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia, which will be played in Rawalpindi (March4-8), Karachi (March 12-16) and Lahore (March 21-25).

    Test players who are not involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 will assemble in Karachi on Wednesday, February 16, for a training camp that will be held at the National Stadium.

    From the series against Bangladesh, three changes have been made in the national squad.

    Haris Rauf, who was in the side for South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests in 2021, has returned to replace off-spinner Bilal Asif, while Shan Masood, who last played in New Zealand in the 2020-21 season, has taken over from Abid Ali, who is completing his rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Yasir Shah has been added to the reserve pool.

    Chief selector Muhammad Wasim in a statement said: “We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary. This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future.”

    “These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit. I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side,” he added.

    Test squad:

    Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood.

    Reserves players selected for the tour are Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Yasir Shah.

    Cricket Australia announced the full-strength squad for Pakistan tour on Tuesday. While squads for the limited-overs matches that will follow the Tests are yet to be named, the fact that no Test players have pulled out is a vote of confidence for the tour.

  • Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    The Senate passed three bills on Monday, including the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill 2020. The bill gives mothers the right of custody of minors in case of separation between parents. The ‘real’ mother’s right to custody of her children is addressed in section 19-A, which has been added alongside sections 19-B through 19-G.

    PPP Senator Farooq H Naek introduced the bill in the upper house of Parliament. Despite the government’s reservations over the non-inclusion of the Council of Islamic Ideology’s recommendations in the proposed legislation, it was passed by a majority vote.

    Naek said the proposed amendment bill would ensure custody of male and female children to divorcee/widow mothers, up to the age of seven and 16 years respectively.

    According to the bill, “In absence of the real mother, or if she renounces her right or her right is legally held to have lapsed, the custody of her son less than seven years of age and of her daughter who has not attained the age of puberty or 16 years shall vest successively in the female relatives in the following order: maternal grandmother however so high in degree, paternal grandmother however so high in degree, full sister, uterine sister, consanguine sister, full sister’s daughter, uterine sister’s daughter, consanguine sister’s daughter, mother’s sister and father’s sister.”

    “When none of the women, eligible for custody under sections 19A and 19B, are available or willing to accept it or such a woman is disentitled to Hizanat, the male relatives shall then become eligible for the custody of the child in the following order: father, maternal grandfather however so high in degree, paternal grandfather however so high in degree, full brother, uterine brother, consanguine brother, full brother’s son, uterine brother’s son and consanguine brother’s son.”

    The bill from the Senate, will now go to the National Assembly for a vote to be passed into law.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Ali Sethi reveals something special about ‘Pasoori’ and a truck

    EXCLUSIVE: Ali Sethi reveals something special about ‘Pasoori’ and a truck

    Coke Studio’s latest song features singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill.

    The song ‘Pasoori’ is a fusion of pop and folk music. It makes you want to dance to its magical tune.

    ‘Pasoori‘ has been written by Sethi and Fazal Abbas, while the composition has been done by Sethi and Zulfiqar J Khan, popularly known as Xulfi. The music has been produced by Abdullah Siddiqui and Xulfi.

    The Current reached out to Ali Sethi and he revealed that the song is warm and familiar. “It makes one feel good.”

    Sethi revealed that he was driving back from Faisalabad, Punjab when he saw a quote written at the back of a truck, “Aag lavaan teri majbooriyan nu [ set fire to your worries]. I felt that this was such an amazing expression of the Punjabi language. This should be part of a song somehow.”

    Sethi said that this line made him think further about the combination of words that would be suited for the lyrical completion of the song. And that’s when the words, “Aan jaan di pasoori nu [the business of coming and going]” came to his mind.

    Sethi during the Behind the Scenes (BTS) of Coke Studio’s song Pasoori says that unfortunately, we live in a very polarised world. “Where borders and boundaries of all sorts have become more rigid.”

    Sethi during the BTS says that he is a modern-day gypsy living between Pakistan and United States (US). “It would be interesting to make a case for the alternative, which is the right to free movement of ideas and melodies through a song. Our music already embodies that alternative.”

    ‘Pasoori’ turns all angst into art, with its lyrics signifying the need to celebrate artistic self-expression.

  • ‘Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,’ says Shehbaz as PML-N meets MQM-P delegation

    ‘Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,’ says Shehbaz as PML-N meets MQM-P delegation

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) delegation.

    Addressing a press conference along with MQM-P Deputy Convenor Amir Khan and other party members, Shehbaz said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is not concerned about the problems of the people but is only “concerned about the Opposition”.

    “Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,” said Shehbaz, adding that the delegation discussed all issues highlighted during the meeting with their party leadership in Karachi.

    “Life has become hard for the people due to additional taxes, rising electricity prices, etc,” said Shehbaz.

    “The kind of problems people are facing because of the federal government in the provincial capital, we are facing the similar kind of torture and oppression in Sindh because of them,” said Amir Khan.

    “There are no two opinions about the devastating economic conditions of Pakistan,” said Amir, adding that the MQM-P also has reservations regarding the rising inflation.

    “Inflation has become unbearable and a solution needs to be found as soon as possible,” asserted Amir.

    It is pertinent to mention here that MQM-P is one of the allies of the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

  • ‘Jigar to Jigar’: woman donates liver to husband

    ‘Jigar to Jigar’: woman donates liver to husband

    A woman donated part of her liver to save her husband’s life in Sindh, reports Geo.

    After the operation, the woman said that they have been married for ten years but they have no children and her husband is everything for her. She also said that she can donate every organ of her body just to save her husband’s life. In the video, the woman looked happy with a smile on her face.

    The reporter asked her how is she feeling about donating her jigar (liver), to which she said, “He is my jigar.” She added that she loves her husband a lot.

    The successful and free liver transplant was performed at Abdul Qadir Shah Jilani Institute of Medical Sciences, Gambat, Khairpur. According to doctors, both the husband and wife are healthy after the operation.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w23oy23Cw0&feature=youtu.be
  • Pak-Ind October T20 WC match tickets sold out within minutes

    Pak-Ind October T20 WC match tickets sold out within minutes

    Tickets of the most anticipated match of the T20 World Cup 2022 between arch-rivals Pakistan and India have been sold out minutes after the online sale started. Both the teams will kickoff their campaign in the clash against each other at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23rd.

    According to the data available on the official website of the International Cricket Council (ICC), all the categories of the league match have been booked by the cricket fans, which shows the excitement among cricket lovers when both these countries face each other on the cricket field.

    Pakistan registered a thumping win against India in Dubai in the T20 World Cup 2021 clash, India was defeated by Pakistan by a margin of 10 wickets. But the campaign of Men in Green was cut short by the eventual champions, Australia, in the semi-finals.

    Meanwhile, tickets for the men’s T20 World Cup in Australia have gone on sale, giving fans an opportunity to secure their seats for the event scheduled from October 16 to November 13.

    Tickets are available on t20worldcup.com from Monday for all 45 matches, including the final, which will be played at the MCG on November 13.

  • PM Khan to become first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 23 years

    PM Khan to become first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 23 years

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will visit Russia this month, Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday.

    FM Qureshi said that PM Imran Khan has been invited to Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it “evidence” that bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia are witnessing a positive change.

    The foreign minister made the announcement about the Russian tour while giving a briefing about the prime minister’s recently concluded visit to China and its outcomes.

    “The joint statement is a visual manifestation of the success of the China tour,” FM Qureshi said while referring to the statement mutually issued by Pakistan and China about PM’s visit to China.

    PM Khan will become the first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 23 years after former premier Nawaz Sharif, who visited Moscow in 1999.

  • PM Khan and others show support for Kashmir issue on Kashmir Solidarity Day

    PM Khan and others show support for Kashmir issue on Kashmir Solidarity Day

    On Kashmir Solidarity Day, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan reiterated that Pakistan stands united with Indian-Occupied Kashmiri (IoK) and urged the international community to take notice of India’s crimes. The premier is officially on a four-day tour to China.

    Taking to his Twitter handle, the premier wrote: “Modi’s fascist policies of oppression and violence have failed to crush the spirit of the Kashmiri resistance in IoK.”

    President Dr Arif Alvi said India was continuing to “brutalise” IoK and also trying to change its demography. “I remind the world to wake up and fulfil its promise of protecting Kashmiri human & political rights,” the president said in a tweet.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said today was a day to come together to extend “unwavering support” to Kashmiris regardless of political differences.

    Similarly, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari showed his support and said his party would continue to support Kashmiris in their cause.

    Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said Pakistan stood in solidarity with occupied Kashmir and the Kashmiris’ “legitimate” struggle for self-determination and a plebiscite.

  • ‘Pakistan is our strategic partner’: US responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks

    ‘Pakistan is our strategic partner’: US responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks

    The United States (US) has responded to Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha, that the policies adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have brought Pakistan and China closer.

    The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price refused to “endorse” such a statement on Washington’s behalf and said, “Pakistan is our strategic partner.”

    “I’ll let Pakistanis and the PRC (People’s Republic of China) speak for themselves about their relationship. These remarks will certainly not be endorsed by me,” Price said during a regular press briefing.

    The US said it values its relationship with Pakistan while emphasising that there was no requirement, as far as Washington was concerned, for other countries to choose between the US and China.

    “We’ve made the point all along that it is not a requirement for any country around the world to choose between the United States and China,” Ned Price told reporters when asked if Pakistan and China have become closer because “they feel abandoned” by the US.

    Rahul, while speaking in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on President’s address during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament on Wednesday, said, “India’s single most important strategic goal has been to keep China and Pakistan apart but what you have done has only brought them together.”