Tag: Pakistan

  • COVID-19: NCOC recommends closure of shrines, indoor restaurants

    COVID-19: NCOC recommends closure of shrines, indoor restaurants

    The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has issued new restrictions to control the rapidly increasing second wave of COVID-19 across the country.

    As per details, the NCOC has recommended limiting all public gatherings to 500 people, including cultural, political, religious, entertainment, and civil gatherings.

    The body has proposed early and extending winter vacations to federal and provincial education departments, keeping in view the rising positivity rate in educational institutions.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood will be presiding a special meeting with his provincial counterparts at the NCOC on November 16 to evaluate the positivity prevailing in educational institutions.

    The forum has allowed only outdoor dining at the restaurants till 10 pm while cinemas and theatres will be closed instantly. Shrines will also be temporarily closed with immediate effect. Only outdoor weddings with maximum  500 people be will allowed from November 20.

    The NCOC also wants early closing of markets.

    “After consultative discussions, the recommendations would be shared with the provinces for consequent decision and enforcement,” said the NCOC in a statement. “The body has recommended urgent and emergency measures to the NCC for final approval after consensus by all stakeholders.”

    The country has reported 348,184 coronavirus cases so far.

  • After Pakistan issues new map, Nawab of Junagarh says princely state will soon become its part

    Months after Islamabad issued a new political map that also included occupied Kashmir among other erstwhile princely states currently under Indian rule, Nawab of Junagarh Muhammad Jahangir Khanji has said that the city in the Indian state of Gujarat “will soon become a part of Pakistan”.

    Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Nawab Khanji urged the United Nations (UN) to play its role in the liberation of Junagarh from Indian occupation. He also appealed to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to become its ambassador as he did in the case of Kashmir to highlight the issue of liberation from New Delhi’s illegal rule at all international forums.

    The Nawab said a secretariat of Junagarh should be established in Islamabad to bring the princely state closer to Pakistan and told the participants that November 9 was observed as a black day as on this day in 1947 India occupied the territory of Junagarh.

    “The occupation was against the international law and norms,” he said, adding that a living nation should remember its history and act accordingly.

    Junagarh, he said, had a territory of 4,000 square miles and a 100-mile coastline along the Arabian Sea with many ports. Among the 562 princely states in the sub-continent, Junagarh was the sixth richest and a welfare state which provided free education to its citizens and took responsibility to provide healthcare facilities to all of them, Dawn quoted him as saying.

    He recalled that in October 1947, during his visit to Pakistan his grandfather Nawab Mahabat Khan signed an agreement of accession to Pakistan. During the visit, his grandfather held a meeting with Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and decided to accede the state to Pakistan.

    The treaty of accession was ratified by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

    In the absence of his grandfather, India landed its troops and occupied the territory of Junagarh on November 9, 1947, he said.

    The Nawab said that after the creation of India and Pakistan, the sovereign rulers of the states were given the right of choice to stay independent or accede to India or Pakistan.

    He said that Pakistan took the case of occupation of Junagarh to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

    He vowed to continue struggle for the liberation of Junagarh.

    “I will not rest and will not stay quiet till I have achieved my goal of the liberation of Junagarh,” he said.

    The Nawab said that Junagarh was part of Pakistan and it would remain so.

    He said that Hindu and Muslim communities in Junagarh still expressed their loyalties to the Nawab of Junagarh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should know that Junagarh would be part of Pakistan, he said.

    He said it was a dream of the Quaid-i-Azam and his grandfather that Junagarh should be part of Pakistan.

    In reply to a question, he said 2.5 million people belonging to Junagarh lived in Pakistan.

    He said his grandfather never claimed any property or benefits in Pakistan.

  • PM believes his popularity is rising, opposition is propagandising inflation

    PM believes his popularity is rising, opposition is propagandising inflation

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said the opposition was just propagandising inflation as all economic indicators were highlighting a positive trend, The News reported.

    He expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review the overall political situation in the country as well as the government’s media strategy. Imran directed his economic team to highlight the successes achieved by the government in the media.

    He said the political leaders responsible for the current economic mess were misleading the masses to save their face and politics. He maintained that it was due to the policies of the previous governments that the masses were suffering, say media reports.

    “We have overcome the effects of their economic decisions after two years of work and finally the economy is witnessing stability,” he added. The premier said the benefits of growing economy would soon be shifted to the masses.

    “The economic team should tell the masses as to how the previous governments ruined the economy,” he said.

    The premier added that the public gatherings in Swat and Hafizabad had once again proved that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enjoyed the confidence of masses.

    “PTI will also clean sweep the Gilgit-Baltistan elections as the support of the people at the rallies prove the rise in our popularity,” he said.

  • Shopkeeper beats up female customer over argument on price in Lahore

    Shopkeeper beats up female customer over argument on price in Lahore

    A shopkeeper in Lahore beat up a female customer with a glass bottle and also thrashed another person after a heated argument ensued between them over the price of a product.

    As per reports, the shopkeeper thrashed the woman and a man over the argument and later also hit the lady with a glass bottle. The woman is being identified as Farah Bibi.

    The police allegedly refused to register a case against the shopkeeper when the injured approached the Ghaziabad police station.

    Commenting on the matter, the station house officer (SHO) Ghaziabad said that a woman named Farah was hit with a bottle. He said that they could only register an FIR after a medical examination of the victim.

    Meanwhile, the woman has alleged that the police are deliberately siding with the shopkeeper and have refused to register a case against him and were delaying a medical report into the matter.

  • Military officials to brief parliamentary leaders on national security

    Military officials will this week be briefing parliamentary leaders from both the National Assembly (NA) and Senate on national security issues.

    According to a statement issued by the NA, the military officials will brief the parliamentarians in a meeting called by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, who will also be the chair. It will take place in Committee Room Number 2 at 2 pm on Wednesday.

    According to the NA’s Twitter account, invitations have been sent to PTI’s Parliamentary leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, MMA’s Asad Mahmood and PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema.

    Furthermore, BNP-M’s Akhtar Mengal, MQM’s Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddqui and BAP’s Khalid Hussain Mangi have also been invited.

    The NA also said that invitations have been sent out to GDA’s Ghous Bakhsh Khan Mehar, Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and ANP’s Amir Haider Azam Khan.

    From Senate, invites have been sent to Mushahidullah Khan, Sherry Rehman, Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Mir Akber Ahmed, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haderi, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Sirajul Haq, Sitara Ayaz, Dr Jahanzaib Jamaldini, Anwar ul Haq Kakar and Aurangzeb Khan.

    The NA further said that federal ministers Pervaiz Khattak, Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Ali Amin Gandapur, Shafqat Mahmood, Asad Umar, Shibli Faraz. PM’s adviser Babar Awan and SAPM Dr Moeed Yusuf have also been asked to attend the session.

    Meanwhile, Attorney General Khalid Javed, interim CM of GB Mir Afzal, AJK President Masood Khan and AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider have also been sent special invitations.

  • Social media divided over ‘IBA students’ inappropriate activity in Karachi University parking’ report

    Social media divided over ‘IBA students’ inappropriate activity in Karachi University parking’ report

    Netizens are divided over a Times of Karachi report from Sunday wherein the media organisation had claimed initiation of action against at least four male and female students of the port city’s Institute of Business Administration (IBA) over “inappropriate activity”.

    According to the report, the four students, including two girls, were questioned by Karachi University (KU) guards over “inappropriate activity” in a vehicle with tinted windows, which was parked within the premises of the Karachi University (KU) on Sunday.

    “The KU administration will write a letter to IBA on Monday to ask them to investigate why students came to the university on Sunday and parked their tinted car at an abandoned place,” the report quoted sources as saying.

    While no official statement confirming or denying the incident has as of yet been issued by either of the two institutions, here’s what social media users have to say about it…

    TWITTER:

    https://twitter.com/iSadiaSheikh/status/1325475695775059968
    https://twitter.com/dsyedasad/status/1325475475511152640

    FACEBOOK:

    Have something to add to this story? Let The Current know in the comments

  • Passenger arrested for carrying quail in pocket on Peshawar flight

    Passenger arrested for carrying quail in pocket on Peshawar flight

    A passenger at the Bacha Khan International Airport was arrested for bringing a quail bird with him on a flight on Sunday.

    According to details, a passenger entered the plane carrying the bird in his pocket and took it out during the flight, flying from Jeddah to Peshawar and started playing with it.

    When an air hostess questioned him about it, he became angry with her, stated officials.

    The passenger was arrested by the Airport Security Force (ASF) on arrival at the Peshawar Airport. ASF officials took the quail into their custody. However, the passenger was later released after a written apology.

  • Medical test proves Arzoo Raja is a minor

    Medical test proves Arzoo Raja is a minor

    A medical test has proven that Arzoo Raja, the teenage Christian girl who was allegedly abducted before being forcefully converted and married to a Muslim man, is around 14 years of age, social activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir announced on Monday.

    According to Jibran, who is part of the legal team fighting the case on behalf of Arzoo’s parents, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has also recognised NADRA (National Database & Registration Authority) documents stating Arzoo’s age to be 13 as true.

    “[The court] declares prima facie [at first sight] she contracted child marriage. Arzoo to remain in shelter home till next hearing,” he tweeted.

    In a subsequent tweet, Jibran added that the court has not disposed off the petition and the next hearing will be held after two weeks.

    “Court is yet to determine whether #Arzoo is sui juris [of one’s own right] to convert religion of free will given her age of 13. At this stage, only question of child marriage has been addressed and resolved,” he said further.

    Earlier, amid public outrage, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab had announced Arzoo’s recovery.

    Speaking to Dawn, acting Karachi police chief Additional IG Arif Hanif had confirmed that the 13-year-old girl had been recovered safely and her purported husband had also been arrested.

    The city police chief had said the girl would be sent to a shelter home as per the directions of the SHC while the suspect would be presented before the court.

    “The judge has ordered the girl be recovered by police and relevant agencies and shifted to a shelter home. Next hearing fixed for Thursday morning [November 5]. My lawyer has informed the court that an intervener will be filed on my behalf,” Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari had said in a tweet.

    Officials, including Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, have been reiterating resolve of the authorities concerned to resolve Arzoo’s case at the earliest.

  • Pakistan & India to go to war over Basmati rice rights

    Pakistan is all geared up to thwart India’s attempt to obtain branding rights for Basmati rice, The News reported.

    Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razza Dawood said on Friday that the government had prepared a detailed response in the matter and would submit it before the European Union (EU) Commission on December 10. 

    He hoped the Indian’s claim on Basmati rice would be rejected in totality. “The decision is expected within a one-year period,” he added.

    We are in possession of many documents which we will present as documentary proof to the EU Commission to prove Basmati rice is our brand, the advisor told The News. 

    Dawood said India’s stance on Basmati rice was impossible to prove since Pakistan possessed every proof to foil their attempt. “The first statement will be submitted on December 19, the application will be submitted in the second round.”

    “I met with the attorney general yesterday to ensure we hire a good law firm to present our Basmati case before the EU commission.”

    Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice that is traditionally grown in Pakistan and India. As of 2018-19, India accounted for 65% of the international trade in basmati rice, while Pakistan accounted for the remaining 35%.

    Many countries use domestically grown basmati rice crops; however, basmati is geographically exclusive to certain districts of Pakistan and India.

  • Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of taking Kartarpur Gurdwara’s management away from Sikh body

    Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of taking Kartarpur Gurdwara’s management away from Sikh body

    Pakistan has firmly rejected the “baseless and fallacious” claims made by the Indian government against the Kartarpur Corridor, and the same have also been rejected by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC).

    In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said that the malicious propaganda by the Indian government is simply an attempt to malign the peace corridor initiative.

    “The malicious propaganda by the Indian government is simply an attempt to malign the peace corridor initiative by casting mischievous aspersions against the interests of the Sikh community and to detract attention from the reprehensible violation of human rights of minorities in India,” he said.

    The FO said that it was no more than an Indian attempt to cast damaging accusations against the interests of the Sikh community and to detract attention from India’s own reprehensible human rights violations of minorities in India.

    Chaudri added that the PSGPC is responsible for carrying out rituals in Gurdwara Sahiban, including Kartarpur, as per Sikh Rehat Maryada.

    “Any insinuations regarding ‘transferring’ the affairs of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from the PSGPC to the Project Management Unit (PMU) are not only contrary to the facts but are also aimed at creating religious disharmony by the Hindutva-driven government in India,” the FO spokesperson said.

    “The PMU, under the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), has simply been created to facilitate the committee in this regard,” he added.

    Chaudhri said that the Sikh community from all over the world remains greatly appreciative of the efforts made by Pakistan to complete the Kartarpur Corridor project in record time and for the excellent arrangements made to facilitate the pilgrims.

    “India would be well advised to take steps to protect its minorities and their places of worship, rather than feigning misleading and sham concerns for the rights of minorities elsewhere,” he said.

    INDIAN CLAIMS:

    India had on Thursday “highly condemned” Pakistan’s then alleged decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from PSGPC to a separate trust, saying the move ran against the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said India received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern over the decision to transfer the management and maintenance of the gurudwara from the PSGPC to the administrative control of the ETPB.

    KARTARPUR SAHIB:

    Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located in Pakistan’s Narowal district across Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine.

    In November last year, the two countries threw open a corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative.

    The move was lauded by members of the Sikh community from all across the globe.