A woman at Okra Test Kitchen in Karachi yelled at a chef who reportedly asked her for her Covid vaccination certificate.
The video shows the woman, who was not even wearing a mask, filming the chef and arguing with him. The woman can be heard saying, “Who are you to ask me about my medical record?” She also accused the chef of being in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan because he was asking for her medical records.
The woman called herself a “human rights activist” while exiting the venue.
Twitterati were quick enough to call out the woman for misbehaving with the chef.
Fun fact: he is not in violation, she is in his establishment and he can ask for something the gov. Has made mandatory… secondly if she wants proof then theres Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014 and she can be straight away charged under 188 of penal code of Pakistan for refusing
Former Assistant to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, addressed a rally in Rasoolpur, Sialkot, when people started chanting slogans against her and expressed their complaints and reservations, reported Geo News.
At first, the former aide tried to calm the crowd but eventually, things got out of hand.
In response to the crowd’s slogans, Firdous said: “If you people had employed similar efforts [during the elections] as you are doing now, I would have still been part of the assembly.”
In response, people said that they had voted for her.
She argued that there is some conspiracy against her. She said, “I will work for my constituency, as no one else will.”
Rasoolpur is Awan’s constituency, from where she lost her National Assembly (NA) seat on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ticket to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani.
The Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) on Wednesday boycotted Out-Patient Department (OPD) services across the country, Daily Times reported. They are protesting against torture of their colleagues in Islamabad during a protest outside Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC).
According to the YDA spokesperson, only emergency services are being provided at the hospital. The move comes a day after police manhandled their fellow doctors in the federal capital during a protest against National Licensing Examination (NLE).
They criticised the government and the doctors said that this is the first time in the country’s history that the police brutally attacked doctors.
The protests are causing severe difficulties to the patients coming to the hospitals. Services Hospital Lahore have suspended their services.
In Faisalabad, the doctors from the YDA platform have suspended OPDs and also the operation theatre services at the Allied Hospital. They also staged a protest and strongly condemned the torture and arrest of their colleagues in Islamabad. They vowed not to accept NLE law at any cost.
Hundreds of young doctors across the country have been protesting against the PMC. The doctors have demanded that the compulsion to sit the National Licensing Exam should be withdrawn.
The Pakistan Medical Commission has announced that in order to practice in Pakistan, doctors will have to take a licensing exam after completing five years of education.
Young doctors say the additional examination was unfair as they had already passed the same exam to obtain their MBBS degrees.
On Tuesday, at least 20 doctors were arrested after they tried to enter the PMC building. The Islamabad police baton-charged the protesters.
Zahir Jaffer’s parents have challenged Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) bail rejection by approaching the Supreme Court (SC), reported Geo News.
Zahir is the prime suspect in Noor Mukadam’s murder case.
Advocate Khawaja Harris filed a petition on behalf of his clients Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, arguing that delivering a verdict in two months goes against the rights of the suspects and the principles of a transparent trial.
According to the petition, a complete challan of the case has not yet been presented in the trial court, while the high court went beyond its jurisdiction by directing to complete the trial in two months.
Furthermore, the petition argued that the police investigation was biased and not impartial. According to Zahir’s parents’ lawyers, the defendants will not be able to defend themselves properly in prison as it will be difficult for them to communicate with them being in prison.
Last week, the IHC had rejected the bail pleas of both of Zahir’s parents and also ordered the court to complete the trial within eight weeks.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the federal cabinet members, whose names appeared in the Pandora Papers, would not be removed from their positions unless proven guilty.
“Action will be taken once they are proven guilty,” said the minister.
Chaudhry criticised the owners of media houses and said, “I see the photos of [Finance Minister] Shaukat Tarin and [Industries Minister] Khusro Bakhtiar being aired on TV channels, but not of media house owners, who have also been named as owners of offshore companies.”
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday formed a high-powered cell to investigate the 700 Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers, including federal cabinet members, politicians, retired generals, owners of media houses, and others in establishing offshore companies.
The cell will categorise the named individuals into four groups: those who have declared their offshore companies in Pakistan; those who have not declared their companies here and committed tax evasion; those who used their companies for money laundering and individuals who have not shown their offshore companies as part of the assets owned by them while declaring their wealth, reports Dawn.
A woman was detained for throwing acid on her ex-husband in Lahore, Samaa News reported.
According to the victim, Sajid Khan, his ex-wife attacked him outside his house near Band Road. The couple separated three years back. A week ago, Khan got married for the second time.
“On September 30, I remarried. While I was on my way back home, she [the suspect] threw acid on me. There were two people with me who witnessed the attack,” he told the police.
The investigation officer told Samaa that the woman disguised herself as a beggar to track Khan. “He has sustained third-degree burns on his back, neck and hands,” he added.
Police have arrested the woman while an investigation is underway.
The British High Commission of Pakistan in London launched the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP), which includes graduate scholarships, visiting fellowships, and special lectures.
Founded by two Oxford alumni, Haroon Zaman and Talha Pirzada, this initiative aims to provide opportunities for bright students, academic and research scholarships for Pakistanis, reports Saama.
The head of the programme and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford Adeel Malik said in a tweet, “Oxford Pakistan Programme will generate scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students & consolidate Pakistan-related academic activities.”
Delighted to announce the launch of Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP), a major new initiative on education and public diplomacy at @UniofOxfordOPP will generate scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students & consolidate Pakistan-related academic activities @oxfordgivingpic.twitter.com/sy5FOqNmXz
An annual Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal lecture on Eastern Philosophy has been announced under the OPP. The lecture will be delivered by a leading global intellectual every year.
Pakistanis in the United Kingdom (UK) have pledged over £500,000 for this programme.
The event launch of OPP was attended by a large number of Oxonians, senior Oxford academicians, scholars, and writers, including Malala Yousafzai.
Malala has also announced an additional scholarship under the OPP, which will allow one Pakistani girl from an underdeveloped background to study at Oxford every year.
Nobel Peace Prize Winner @Malala speaks at Pakistan High Commission London as part of Oxford University Pakistan student delegation pic.twitter.com/13lrgFIivl
Pakistani actor Yasra Rizvi shared pictures and messages from a recent campaign on toxic marriages.
The actor posted a picture with the caption, “Shaadi aik social contract hai jisme huqooq aur faraaiz dono fariqain ke hote hain, isse umer qaid ya sazaa-e-moat samajh laina khud apne saath zyaadti hai!” (Marriage is a social contract involving the rights and duties of both sides. Considering it as death sentence or life imprisonment is not fair with your self).
Indian actor, Ayushmann Khurana, liked the picture while Pakistani actor, Ghana Ali, highlighted this under Yasra’s post.
Earlier in August, Actor Yasra Rizvi took to her Instagram stories to hit out at the Lux Style awards after they announced their nominations for their award ceremony.
More than 700 Pakistanis are in the data revealed in Pandora Papers and a majority of them are tax residents in Pakistan, reports Umar Cheema for The News.
Key members of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, retired civilian and military officials and their families as well as owners of some of the country’s top media outlets, secretly own or have owned an array of companies and trusts holding millions of dollars in offshore jurisdictions, Fakhar Durrani reports for The News.
Politicians in Pandora Papers
The revelations made in the Pandora Papers, which contain the names of some prominent and key figures in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, will be a test case for PM Khan to make his close associates answerable for holding offshore companies.
Below is the list of a few of the many prominent politicians of the government and Opposition whose names are in the Pandora Papers.
1. Shaukat Tarin:
Shaukat Tarin was recently inducted into Khan’s cabinet and appointed Finance and Revenue Minister. Tarin and three of his family members have four offshore companies registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) jurisdiction. The Tarin family incorporated four offshore companies —Triperna Inc, Hamraa Inc, Seafex Inc, and Moonen Inc — all of them in 2014.
Tarin confirmed being part of the above companies directly or through his family members for the sole purpose of raising capital for his bank.
“We were in negotiations with a Middle East conglomerate for raising capital for my bank, through a structured transaction. The proposed investor had also taken the Central Bank’s in-principle approval for the investment.” He added that the companies remained dysfunctional and no business was carried out through them.
2. Faisal Vawda:
Former minister for water resources, Faisal Vawda, his wife, and his sister have an offshore company. The Vawda family incorporated Dazzling Worldwide Ltd in the BVI jurisdiction in 2012 to invest in UK properties, the Pandora Papers show.
Vawda told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) that he has declared all the worldwide assets held in his name to the Pakistani tax authorities.
3. Abdul Aleem Khan:
Another close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Abdul Aleem Khan also owns an offshore company. The Pandora Papers show that the registered directors of Hexam Investment Overseas Limited (BVI) — Aleem Khan and his wife — approved a written resolution of the offshore company on March 1, 2017, and confirmed being directors of Hexam Investment.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also initiated an investigation against Aleem Khan. It is, however, not confirmed whether he has declared the company in his tax returns or not.
Aleem Khan is now the owner of Samaa News.
4: Chaudhry Moonis Elahi:
Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi was the Settlor and Investment Director of the Green Hills Trust and Winthrop Fund.
Moonis wanted to invest money from the 2007 sale of land owned by Phalia Sugar Mills, an Elahi family business. Thomson Reuters Risk Management Solutions carried out due diligence of Moonis Elahi and produced a 19-page report with the details of his alleged involvement in corrupt land projects. The report mentioned fraudulent loans from the bank and selling the land to a government department. However, despite this due diligence report, Moonis was accepted as Asiaciti’s client.
The family spokesperson of Chaudhrys said that the assets of the family, including Chaudry Pervaiz Elahi and Chaudry Moonis Elahi, are declared as per applicable law.
5. Ali Dar:
The Pandora Papers reveal that former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s son, Ali Dar, owns two companies — Baraq Holdings Ltd and Dar Al Nahyan Ltd — registered in the British Virgin Islands.
Dar in his reply to The News said Dar Al Nahyan Limited remained dormant and no business has been done in the company, which has now been struck off the register. He said he has never been a tax resident in Pakistan and nor has he ever been involved in any professional employment or business activities whatsoever in Pakistan.
6. Sharjeel Inam Memon:
Former information minister in the Sindh government Sharjeel Inam Memon also owned three offshore companies in the BVI jurisdiction. The three companies that are owned by the Memon family include Ocean Wave Technologies Corp, Arctic Development Corp., and New Coast Executive Inc.
The companies are involved in the real estate business. The former provincial minister while talking to The News neither denied nor confirmedthe companies’ ownership.
Media owners included in Pandora Papers
The Pandora Papers have brought forth some media owners’ names who have offshore companies in offshore jurisdictions.
1. Hameed Haroon:
Hameed Haroon — CEO of Dawn media group — owns an offshore company Bardney Limited, registered in Seychelles.
In his official response to The News, Haroon said the company is duly declared and is being reported to the relevant authorities in Pakistan in accordance with the applicable laws of the land.
2. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman:
Jang Group’s Publisher Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman (MSR) owns an offshore company Brookwood Ventures Limited in the BVI jurisdiction. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was transferred the shares of the company on April 17, 2008.
Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, responding to the investigation cell, said, “No, it’s not true, I don’t own any company. However, I had this till 2018.” The News also asked him that the British Virgin Islands is a tax and secrecy haven. Why he opted to set up a company there. MSR replied that people invest in BVI as it offers attractive conditions for investment. MSR was also asked if he declared the company with the relevant tax authorities to which he said, “Yes, it was part of my wealth for the tax year 2018 and subject to taxes where applicable.”
3. Sultan Ali Lakhani:
Express Media Group Sultan Ali Lakhani also owns an offshore company Century Media Network Inc. The company was incorporated in February 2005.
The spokesperson of the Lakhani family said all companies are legal and as per law of the land wherever applicable.
4. Gourmet Group:
Pandora Papers reveal that an employee of Gourmet group named Amna Butt was appointed director of an offshore company, Gourmet Holdings Limited in the BVI jurisdiction. The Gourmet group owns a large chain of bakeries across Punjab. In addition, the group owns a news channel called Gourmet News Network (GNN) as well.
It is, however, not confirmed whether the company is declared with the Pakistani tax authorities or not. Amna Butt was sent a questionnaire by The News, but no response has been received from her.
Military officials and family included in Pandora Papers
Apart from the politicians, media owners, and civilian bureaucrats, some top retired military officials have also been named in the new leaks.
1. Major General (retd) Nusrat Naeem:
Major General (retd) Nusrat Naeem owned a BVI company, Afghan Oil & Gas Ltd that was registered in 2009, shortly after his retirement. In his response to the ICIJ, he said that the company had been set up by a friend and that he did not use it for any financial transactions.
2. Ahsan Latif:
Ahsan Latif — son-in-law of former Governor Punjab Lt General (retd) Khalid Maqbool — owned an offshore company, Dylan Capital Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands.
It is not clear whether Ahsan Latif has declared the above-mentioned assets before the tax authorities in Pakistan. The News sent a query to him but received no response from him
3. Muhammad Hasan Muzaffar:
Pandora Papers reveal that Muhammad Hasan Muzaffar, son of Lt General (retd) Muhammad Afzal Muzaffar, owned shares in a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, Creek Growth Capital Holding Ltd. The offshore company owned Southeast Healthcare Holding, which in turn controlled a Dubai-based medical centre that now appears to be closed.
Hasan told ICIJ that the simple fact is there is no relation of this investment to his father. He further commented that the investment was made solely from his own income earned in the UAE and came from his UAE bank account. No other family member, including his father, was involved.
4. Shafatullah Shah:
The former military secretary of Gen Pervez Musharraf, Lt Gen (retd) Shafatullah Shah owns an expensive apartment in London through an offshore company, which is in the names of his wife and son.
5. Raja Nadir Pervez:
Pandora Papers also reveal that Raja Nadir Pervez, a retired army lieutenant colonel and former minister in the Nawaz Sharif-led government, owned International Finance & Equipment Ltd, a BVI-registered company. In the leaked files, the firm is involved in machinery and related businesses in India, Thailand, Russia, and China.
He is currently a member of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Raja Nadir Pervez did not respond to ICIJ reporters’ questions.
Businessmen and civil bureaucrats included in Pandora Papers
1. Yawar Salman:
Son of bureaucrat Salman Siddique, Yawar Salman along with another partner Noeen Ahmed Anwar registered an offshore company, just a little before the former’s father’s retirement. The company is called Cres Tech Holdings Limited in the BVI.
Yawar Salman told The News that the entity Cres Tech Holdings was incorporated as part of a then-envisaged plan to undertake a foreign business. However, owing to certain circumstances, neither any equity was contributed nor any bank account opened. Since no equity was ever contributed and the entity’s worth remains ‘nil’, the question of disclosing it to the tax authorities does not arise.
2. Javed Afridi:
The Pandora Papers have also revealed that the owner of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Peshawar Zalmi, and renowned industrialist Javed Afridi owns three offshore companies in the BVI jurisdiction. Afridi is the beneficial owner of Old Trafford Properties Ltd, Sutton Gas Works Properties Ltd, and Gas Works Property Ltd.
Javed Afridi in his response confirmed to The News ownership of three offshore companies. He said the reason to incorporate them was for the good intention to save tax rather than avoiding any tax. According to him, the companies were almost dormant, and no business or investment was done by any of the companies.
Pandora Papers
The papers are named after the Greek myth of Pandora’s box. In the tale, Pandora opens a sealed box containing the forces of evil and suffering which, once released, were uncontainable.
BBC quoted Gerard Ryle, the director of ICIJ, as saying this leak was given the name because “we’re opening a box on a lot of things”.
This information revealed above has been named Pandora Papers and it adds significantly to what was discovered in the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers.
The Pandora Papers have unmasked the fortunes of more than 330 public officials in 90 countries. Included among them are 35 current and former leaders of different countries. The King of Jordan, the rulers of Qatar and Dubai, presidents of the Ukraine, Kenya, and Ecuador, the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Lebanon, and former British prime minister Tony Blair, all appear in the secret files.
For Pakistan, the files pose a big test to the accountability credentials of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had found the Panama Papers a “God-sent” opportunity to burnish his credentials as an anti-corruption warrior.
The documents were leaked to the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which for nearly two years led an investigation collaborating with more than 600 journalists in 117 countries. This is the biggest journalism partnership in history, which involved 150 media organisations. For the Panama Papers, almost 400 journalists from 80 countries participated in the investigation. The News was the only ICIJ partner from Pakistan on both occasions. The Pandora Papers comprise 11.9 million documents whereas the Panama Papers had 11.5 million, reports The News.
