Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘Shoot me dead and don’t tell anyone,’ motorway gang-rape survivor quoted as telling first responders

    ‘Shoot me dead and don’t tell anyone,’ motorway gang-rape survivor quoted as telling first responders

    The survivor of the motorway gang-rape has been quoted by a journalist as asking the first responders to shoot her dead and do not tell anyone about what had happened.

    “A journalist friend was told by an investigating official that when the police reached the crime scene of #MotorwayRape the survivor started begging the cops to shoot her dead and not tell anyone about the incident,” journalist Ailia Zehra tweeted.

    “Can’t even begin to imagine what she must be going through,” she added.

    THE INCIDENT:

    On Tuesday night, it was reported that two robbers had gang-raped a mother of three on the Motorway within Gujjarpura police’s jurisdiction.

    The woman, along with her three children, was driving to Gujranwala in her car when she was forced to stop at the Gujjarpura section of the Motorway after running out of fuel at around 1:30 am. She immediately called a relative and sent him her location. He asked her to also dial the Motorway Police helpline 130 but she was reportedly refused help.

    In the meantime, two robbers approached the car, broke the window and took the woman and her children to nearby bushes where they raped her repeatedly in front of the children. They also snatched her purse that had cash around Rs100,000, one bracelet, car registration and three ATM cards. 

    The Gujjarpura police have registered a case, while motorway police spokesperson said they had not been able to take action as the incident did not occur in the limits of Motorway Police.

    LEAs EXPOSED:

    Separately, the delayed response to emergency calls made by the motorway rape victim have also exposed the level of coordination among the law enforcement agencies despite the government spending billions of rupees on the Safe City Project, The News reported Friday.

    An initial investigation into the incident and contradictory statements of senior officers confirmed that there was a lack of coordination between the Lahore Police and Motorway Police that resulted in a delayed response providing criminals enough time to flee after committing the crime.

    On the second day of the incident, Lahore CCPO Umar Sheikh said the victim had not called the police herself for help. Some of her relatives called the Motorway Police at 1:30 am.

    On the other hand, Motorway Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kaleem Imam said that the victim called the Motorway Police at 2:01 am and was informed that the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway does not fall in their jurisdiction.

    However, the Motorway Police forwarded the call to the FWO immediately. The lady didn’t get any help from the FWO either.

    Later on, a claim of the Dolphin Force surfaced that they received 15 calls at 2:49 am and reached the spot at 2:53 am. A cop of Dolphin Force said as he reached the spot, the woman was “stunned”.

    “She didn’t speak. She mustered up the courage after some time and then told the whole tragedy.”

    However, the Gujjarpura police in its FIR stated that they reached the spot at 4 am and didn’t find anyone there.

    A senior police officer requesting anonymity told The News that factually the Lahore Police and the Motorway Police had delayed the response over jurisdiction.

    They said the Safe City Project was launched after spending billions of rupees for a well-coordinated response and surveillance but the recent incident has exposed it as well.

    They added that call logs should be made part of investigations and strict action should be taken against the responsible persons.

  • ‘Wrestling giant John Cena’ admitted to Islamia College Peshawar

    ‘Wrestling giant John Cena’ admitted to Islamia College Peshawar

    While most people know John Cena to be one of the most prominent American wrestlers, a recent incident has landed his name in an unexpected place — a merit list of a college in Peshawar, Gulf News reported.

    Screenshots of Cena’s name on the merit list of the Bachelor of Computer Science programme at the Islamia College Peshawar went viral online and prompted netizens to joke and make memes.

    After the news went viral, some netizens even photoshopped Cena’s pictures with the graduates from the college. The list, however, not only had Cena’s name on the seventh place but also listed another American wrestling legend, The Undertaker, as his father.

    “Incidents like these take place in online admission. Someone played a joke through the application. However, as soon as we came to know of it, we removed him from the system,” media reports quoted the college as saying.

    It confirmed that someone had applied through a fake name, bank code, roll number and grades.

  • Two brothers from Peshawar make Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter

    Two brothers from Peshawar make Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter

    Two brothers from Peshawar, Qazi Sajjad Ahmed and Qazi Tufail Ahmed have built Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter.

    The two brothers, who belong to Landhi Arbab, a village on the outskirts of the provincial capital, have demonstrated its capability through a successful lift-off.

    Talking to a private news outlet, Qazi Sajjad Ahmed said, “I had watched a James Bond film in 1978, which inspired me to design an ultralight aircraft.” 

    “In 2005, I had submitted a request to the [then] prime minister for financial assistance for accomplishing the feat, which was forwarded to the Pakistan Army. I received a letter from the ministry of defense production and was subsequently interviewed by a major.”

    Sajjad told that the helicopter has been built at a cost of over Rs 1.5 million and can fly up to 6,000 feet. 

    He further said that it can also be used for aerial spraying. While the government acquired special aircraft from Turkey to spray pesticides on locust-infested areas, his helicopter can do so at a cheaper cost.

    The aircraft has been registered with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCCA). Tufail, who is a professional pilot, has requested for government support to bring further improvements to their aircraft.

  • British journalist launches film on Pakistan’s people, culture and cricket

    British journalist launches film on Pakistan’s people, culture and cricket

    Peter Oborne, a senior British journalist, launched a video titled Peter Oborne: The People of Pakistan  at Pakistan High Commission. 

    According to a statement by the Pakistan High Commission London, the film shows a fascinating account of the people, culture, scenic beauty and cricket of Pakistan.

    Oborne came up with the idea of the film during his trip to Pakistan in 2019, along with a 25-member group including British journalists, authors, parliamentarians, business people and amateur cricketers.

    The film was recorded and produced by a British filmmaker Ahmed Peerbux who was part of the visiting group. 

    Speaking on the occasion, Oborne admired the cricketing talent, the hospitality of Pakistani people, the natural beauty and the tourism potential of the country.

    Oborne also thanked High Commissioner, Mohammad Nafees Zakaria for organising the launch at the High Commission.

  • Educational institutions to re-open on Sept 15?

    Educational institutions to re-open on Sept 15?

    Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Monday chaired a meeting of provincial education ministers to make a final decision on whether to reopen educational institutes across the country from September 15, The News reported.

    According to reports, the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) chairperson and executive director, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, and officials of the health department were also present at the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC), which aimed to compile the final recommendations regarding the opening of educational institutes.

    The recommendations to resume educational activities would be sent to the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) for further deliberations among all the stakeholders.

    The meeting was set to also focus on finalising the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this regard. Educational institutes across Pakistan had been shut down back on March 13 in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

    The Single National Curriculum (SNC), a short curriculum for the current academic year, examinations in 2021, and establishment of anti-harassment bodies in the provinces were also on the meeting’s agenda.

    A discussion on the transition plans related to the Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) was also planned for the IPEMC.

    In this regard, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said all educational institutes were to open between September 15 and 30.

    All classes starting Grade 9 and up, as well as all universities, would reopen from Sept 15, while Grade 6-8 classes would resume by Sept 22, Ghani said, adding, however, that pre-primary and primary classes would reopen on Sept 30.

    The provincial minister warned that the schools in any area that may witness a rise in the number of coronavirus cases would be closed.

    Wearing face masks would be mandatory in the schools and strict action was to be taken in case of violation of the coronavirus-related SOPs, he added.

    Moreover, Punjab Education Minister Dr Murad Raas said there would be “no double shift”.

    “Alternative day schedule to be followed by all public & private schools,” Raas said on Twitter.

    Separately, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the provincial education department has decided to conduct coronary tests on school staff and students.

    “Health Department’s teams will be visiting public and private educational institutions to conduct random tests of teachers / staff / students / canteen vendors and all those persons who are working within the premises of educational institutions in an effort to detect COVID-19 positive cases and prevent the spread of disease,” a notification shared on the Twitter account of the ruling PTI’s KP chapter stated.

  • Kaghan to be developed into an all-time tourist destination

    The industries department has announced that Kaghan Valley will be developed into an all-weather tourist destination under the Economic Revitalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Project.

    As per reports, the chief minister’s special adviser on industry Kareem Khan handed over snow-blowing and other heavy machinery to Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) deputy director Sajjad Jan for the purpose.

    Kareem told reporters that the KDA would find places in Kaghan Valley, where landslides are a common occurrence and make them accessible for tourists. He said the government wanted to boost tourism in these areas so it provided modern machinery to the Kaghan and Galiyat Development Authorities for garbage dumping to preserve the environment.

    The chief minister’s aide said his department had allocated the financial support of Rs64 million to small and medium entities to promote tourism in the province.

    “The government in collaboration with the World Bank has launched the Economic Revitalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Project in 2012 to support small and medium enterprises through the matching grant along with the promotion of integrated tourism through the clean and green initiative,” he said.

    KDA deputy director Sajjad Jan said the industries department had given the authority heavy machinery, so it can clear landslides from the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road to control and restore traffic efficiently.

  • ‘Who is this Mr Bajwa you are talking about?’ NAB DG on alleged assets of Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa’s family

    ‘Who is this Mr Bajwa you are talking about?’ NAB DG on alleged assets of Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa’s family

    National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore Director General (DG) Saleem Shahzad has expressed ignorance when asked about media reports claiming that businesses of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on Information and Broadcasting Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa’s family were linked to his rise in the military, Dawn reported.

    “Who is this Mr Bajwa that you are talking about?” Shahzad volleyed back when he, during an informal talk with journalists on Wednesday, was asked about the possibility of a NAB inquiry in the wake of the news story about the alleged assets of Bajwa’s family.

    The reporter’s question followed the statement of Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, who had earlier this week said that Bajwa will soon be issuing a clarification on the news report. 

    Faraz, in a statement on Twitter, had said that he had spoken to Bajwa, who will in a few days issue a “detailed” clarification on reports regarding his assets.

    Bajwa, who is also the chairperson of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, has already rubbished the report while calling it a “malicious propaganda story”.

    The story that went viral last week has been called an attack on CPEC by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    BUZDAR LIQUOR LICENCE CASE:

    Earlier, the NAB DG also said that Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar had not yet submitted a reply in different investigations against him despite two notices.

    “CM Buzdar has not yet filed a reply. He has been served two notices in this regard,” he said, over which Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan has said that the government would file the reply shortly.

    The CM is accused of receiving Rs50 million bribe to force the Excise and Taxation Department head to issue a liquor licence to the hotel in question in violation of the law. He is also facing charges of acquiring property, mostly in south Punjab, in the names of his relatives and others and awarding the Gateway-II Thokar Niaz Baig project to a “blue-eyed” contractor.

    ‘DON’T WANT TO BE STONED AGAIN’:

    To another question, Shahzad said that the watchdog had not yet decided on once again summoning former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz “to avoid being stoned again”.

    “We have not decided about it,” he said when asked about the next appearance of the PML-N leader, whose arrival at NAB Lahore had led to a clash between party workers and the police last month.

    On a lighter note, Shahzad added, “Do we have to be welcomed with stones again?”

    NAB had on August 8 been unable to record the statement of Maryam in an illegal land requisition case as her party workers ran berserk and clashed with riot police in an attempt to force their way into the office of the national graft buster.

    News channels showed chaotic scenes outside the NAB Complex at Thokar Niaz Baig as Maryam drove in accompanied by hundreds of PML-N activists in vehicles and on foot.

    The situation turned ugly when some activists in the PML-N caravan pelted stones at police, who responded by using batons, water cannons and tear gas on the rioters.

    Videos on social media and aired by TV channels showed vehicles of the PML-N activists loaded with sacks full of stones which, according to government ministers, indicate the rioting was not spontaneous — a charge the opposition party denies.

  • Engineering graduate from NUST sets up fruit stall during lockdown

    Engineering graduate from NUST sets up fruit stall during lockdown

    An engineering graduate of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Usman Ashraf set up a fruit stall during the lockdown to support his family and gain experience.

    Speaking to Independent Urdu, Usman said that he sold fruits to learn about public interaction, customer dealing and communication skills.

    “I wanted to implement all the courses that I learnt in the university in a real-life scenario so I decided to do set up a fruit stall”, added Usman.

    Usman also wanted to learn about the difficulties that roadside vendors face daily and the challenges of the buyers.

    “During this time, I faced a lot of troubles. Sometimes people would say mean things to me but I think if a person works hard and do it with fair means then there is nothing wrong in it.”

    Usman is now looking for a job in his field.

  • FIA arrests two men in Multan for harassing, blackmailing women

    FIA arrests two men in Multan for harassing, blackmailing women

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday arrested two men for allegedly harassing and blackmailing women in Multan.

    As per reports, complaints were registered against them at the agency’s cybercrime wing.

    Objectionable videos and pictures of women were recovered from the cell phones detained from the arrested persons. They will be presented before the relevant court for further legal action.

    Earler in August, the FIA had arrested a man for allegedly blackmailing his former wife in Multan. The agency received a complaint regarding the man threatening his former wife to share obscene videos and photos of her on social media.

  • Ex-ISI DG sees no Saudi role in Pakistan-Afghan end-game

    Ex-ISI DG sees no Saudi role in Pakistan-Afghan end-game

    Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director-general (DG) Lt General (r) Asad Durrani has said that Pakistan had planned ten years back to oust the United States forces from Afghanistan but it does not have a major role to play in Afghan end-game and the Afghans have to decide their rulers in future.

    In an interview with a web-television, Lt Gen (r) Durrani said that Pakistan had understood 10 years ago that the US troops would have to be ousted from Afghanistan in Afghan end-game.

    “Now they [US troops] are going out, Pakistan as a country has little role and Taliban, already have a dominant role in war-ravaged Afghanistan, have a major role to play. Besides Afghan Taliban, other players like Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Dr Mohaqiq and other local [ethnic] leaders have a future role too. But Dr Ashraf Ghani has no role in Afghanistan in the future as he has been imposed [as a foreign puppet]. There would be tough negotiations between local players and then future dispensation would be decided,” he said.

    He also said that Pakistan had formed a regional cooperation bloc which would play a key role in the Afghan end-game; and along with Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and Turkey would have a role to play as well.

    “This bloc will also help resolve issues in the Middle East and India too. In Afghanistan, our main objective has already been met and we have facilitated peace process in Afghanistan between the US and Afghan Taliban. We have to ensure that intra-Afghan talks also succeed and future dispensation is decided by Afghans themselves,” he added.

    “We are not worried for Afghanistan future. Taliban have a dominant position and they have won a war against the US forces. Pakistan does not have a major role to play and this is in our interest not to get involved in Afghanistan future role,” he further said.

    Lt Gen (r) Durrani said that the US had wasted billions of dollars each year on “useless” Afghan Army. He accused the US of bribing Taliban by secretly paying them $500 million annually. He said that after defeating the world (NATO), Taliban are now unstoppable.

    He also said that Afghan tribes had defeated the Russians and other invaders. Taliban have a role to play in Afghanistan. “President Obama wanted to pull out US troops ten years back but could not do as US military industrial complex who wanted to sell their weapons to Afghans,” he added.

    The former ISI DG said that the role of Saudi Arabia in Afghanistan has also come to an end. He said that Saudi Arabia’s role in Pakistan is also coming to an end and after Pakistan’s refusal to enter Yemen war.

    “Our plan to attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit also pushed Pakistan-Saudi relations into a new phase. After refusal of the kingdom to support Pakistan on Kashmir issue has ultimately changed the paradigm of bilateral relations. There is a clear division between Pakistan’s interests and the Saudi interests,” he added.

    Terming the state narrative on fifth generation war, he said that states always use gimmicks to peddle their narrative against critics. He said that the state was trying to peddle its narrative through gimmicks like hybrid war and fifth generation war. He added that at times gags would be introduced and also people may be put behind bars too.

    “This is how states navigate through issues but this is being done much these days in Pakistan. But this is always damaging as states have to carry along people willingly to build narratives. Arm twisting would only lead towards a disaster,” he further said.

    Lt Gen (r) Durrani said that political engineering never benefitted Pakistan and it always backfired. He said that it leads to create confusions as no one is ready to take responsibility. He added that the past experiences have proved a fact that whenever anyone does political engineering, those kept out of the government always came back with a vengeance.

    Durrani, however, defended his own political engineering of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) back in late 1980s, and said that he never regretted his engineering despite some mistakes committed.
    “Decisions are taken in a specific environment and in some background. I may have made some mistakes but I don’t regret those,” he added.

    Asked about his court martial trial with the military headquarters, Lt Gen (r) Durrani hesitated to comment, saying that any comment would be inappropriate till a decision is taken.

    “I would only say that those who read my book, say that there is nothing controversial in my book. Then there are few who ask why a media campaign was launched against me,” he asserted. He said that there was no restriction under the law against him to speak to media and many, including General (r) Pervez Musharraf, had also written books.

    “So, it is proved that allegation against me is not due to publishing of a book. There may be other reasons,” he concluded.