Tag: Punjab government

  • Punjab Govt to issue health cards to deserving artists

    Punjab Govt to issue health cards to deserving artists

    Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar on Information, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has announced that the Government of Punjab will issue health cards to all artists across the province. In a press conference, Dr Firdous said that the provincial government will also bear all health-related expenses of deserving artists.

    Read more – Punjab Govt to give Rs 2,000 per month to citizens above 65

    Explaining the scheme, Dr Firdous said that a biometric system will be introduced through social protection authority which will ensure a transparent system of providing the fund. All the funds will be transferred through the banking channel.

    The SAPM told media that 1600 artists who were affected by the coronavirus were given relief by the Punjab government under the artist support fund, while 1500 deserving artists in Punjab received financial assistance worth Rs. 5000 each.

    Dr Firdous made these comments outside the residence of famous singer Shaukat Ali. She also presented Ali a cheque worth Rs 200,000 on behalf of CM Buzdar, adding that the Punjab government has already given him Rs 300,000.

    Ali reportedly has multiple medical issues, including diabetes and liver problem. He is famous for the patriotic songs he sang during the wars of 1965 and 1971. He is also the recipient of the Pride of Performance award.

    It is pertinent to add here that Ali was treated at a Sindh government facility on special instructions of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after reports of his ailment and inability to afford treatment were circulated on social media.

    Commenting on this Dr Awan said that she was sorry to learn that the singer had to go outside the province for his treatment while the Punjab government was distributing health cards across the province.

  • High-tension video shows police ‘forcefully picking up’ DJ Butt ahead of Opp’s Lahore jalsa

    High-tension video shows police ‘forcefully picking up’ DJ Butt ahead of Opp’s Lahore jalsa

    A high-tension video doing the rounds has shown Punjab Police personnel detaining popular disc jockey and political activist DJ Butt.

    According to journalist Munizae Jahangir, Butt, who is responsible for the sound system arrangements at the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) anti-government protest in Lahore on December 13, was “forcefully taken to Model Town police station”.

    https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1336582648488226817?s=19

    The video that shows Butt resisting arrest and seeking the reason behind his detention comes at a time when tensions run high among the country’s political quarters.

    The joint opposition is determined to send the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government packing with its protests.

    The government, on the other hand, has refused to let the opposition “blackmail the state into giving them a clean chit in corruption cases”.

    While the government has also not allowed the PDM member parties to gather in Lahore amid the second wave of COVID-19, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) among other joint opposition parties say the gathering will be held come what may.

    Meanwhile, the premier has also announced to hold by-elections on vacant seats if PDM leaders go forth with plans of resigning from assemblies.

  • Punjab Govt to give Rs 2,000 per month to citizens above 65

    Punjab Govt to give Rs 2,000 per month to citizens above 65

    Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar took Twitter to announce the inauguration of the Bahimat Buzurg program, under which deserving citizens above 65 years of age will get Rs 2,000 per month.

    CM Buzdar also said that the program would lead to the economic rehabilitation of deserving citizens of the society. He further added that we are moving towards the realization of the Prime Ministers’ dream of Rayaste Madina.

    According to the website of Punjab Social Protection Authority, the welfare program will benefit 125,000 people who are not in receipt of other social assistance programs. Rs. 2,000 per month will be given to the beneficiaries having a poverty score below 20.

    CM Punjab said that the program would lead to the economic rehabilitation of deserving senior citizens. In the initial run, Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the program.

  • Motorway rapist wasn’t arrested, he surrendered: father

    After the arrest of the prime suspect in the motorway rape incident, Abid Malhi, his father claimed that the suspect had turned himself in after having escaped the Punjab police for a month.

    The father released a video Tuesday stating the above after police arrested Malhi a day ago from Faisalabad.

    Reportedly, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Branch of the police, and other agencies had tipped off Punjab police about the whereabouts of the suspect before the arrest was made, but the father’s video alleges that Malhi had called the police himself and that the arrest was made from Lahore’s Manga Mandi area in front of a person named Khalid Butt.

    Furthmore, as the arrest has been made, the father demanded that the female members of their family be released. Some of Abid’s relatives had been apprehended by police shortly after the incident took place.

    “Abid had expressed his wish to come home. At 6:30 pm, he returned,” his father said. “Abid was sent to the Crime Investigation Agency’s (CIA) [office] in Khalid Butt’s car,” he claimed.

    On the contrary, Punjab Inspector-General Police (IGP) Inam Ghani said that the suspect had been arrested by police.

  • Motorway gang-rape suspect says he evaded arrest for a month by wearing mask on public transport

    Motorway gang-rape suspect says he evaded arrest for a month by wearing mask on public transport

    The prime suspect of the Lahore-Sialkot motorway rape incident has revealed how he managed to hide from the police for almost a month before he was finally arrested on Monday evening, Geo reported.

    Last month, two robbers on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway had gang-raped a mother of two in front of her children in an area falling within the Gujjarpura police jurisdiction. The incident caused a countrywide outpouring of anger and brought sexual violence against women into national focus. Abid and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga — who is on judicial remand— are the main suspects in the case.

    According to police sources, Malhi said he spent a month travelling through various cities in Punjab using public transport while covering his face with a mask. 

    The suspect revealed that he had fled to Nankana Sahib after raping the woman, while his accomplice, Shafqat, escaped to Depalpur. 

    With the police on his trail, Malhi fled from Nankana Sahib to Bahawalpur, where he managed to evade the police once again and avoid recognition by wearing a mask over his face.

    “I travelled through various cities in public transport,” the suspect was quoted as saying.

    He was ultimately caught after he ran out of money and was forced to contact his wife. Abid was arrested from Faisalabad and is being shifted to Lahore, Hasnain Haider, a deputy superintendent (DSP) of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), said.

    Abid, who was leading a gang of four, is also wanted to police in at least 10 other criminal cases registered at various police stations of Punjab.

  • VIDEO: Punjab’s Chohan comments on opposition’s APC in video message with M16A4 assault rifle

    VIDEO: Punjab’s Chohan comments on opposition’s APC in video message with M16A4 assault rifle

    Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan has made headlines again. Not for his comments about the opposition’s all parties conference (APC) in a video message from Monday afternoon, but for getting it recorded with an assault rifle in the background.

    The video shows the weapon, which appears to be an M16A4 assault rifle, leaning against the wall.

    According to Chohan, the gun is licensed and he carries it with him and keeps it at his office because he has been receiving death threats.

    “I received a letter from terrorists threatening my life two months back,” he told SAMAA TV. “There are three other guns in my office and all of them are for security and are licensed.”

    He said the person behind the camera, who was one of his office staff, forgot to remove the gun. “I didn’t see the video myself because I had to rush for a meeting after the recording,” the minister added.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The guns are usually hidden under the table in the minister’s office.

    PENALTY?

    According to Section 11B of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965, “the carrying or display of arms at fairs or in gatherings or processions of a political, religious, ceremonial or sectarian character or in the premises of courts of law or public offices” is prohibited.

    Noncompliance can result in the suspension or cancellation of the weapons’ licence, fines and imprisonment for at least seven years.

    ARREST DEMANDED:

    Earlier, Chohan said that the APC was “nothing but an attempt to protect corruption and find more chances to plunder public money”.

    While the minister spoke at length against rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), opposition members have hit back at Chohan with the demand for his arrest.

    PPP lawmaker from Punjab, Syed Hassan Murtaza, demanded that Chohan be arrested for display of weapon in his video message.

    Murtaza stated that displaying a gun in a video message by a provincial minister was tantamount to threatening political rivals, adding that a common citizen would have been arrested and tried for such a vieo.

    “It is strange how ‘non-political’ police have not taken any action against the minster so far.”

  • DNA matched in motorway gang-rape case; arrests to follow

    DNA matched in motorway gang-rape case; arrests to follow

    Hours after rejecting a private media outlet’s claims that the prime suspect of the motorway gang-rape case had been arrested, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Saturday announced that one of the culprits had been identified following DNA testing and will soon be apprehended.

    Taking to Twitter to share the news, Dr Gill congratulated Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh and the entire team.

    “DNA matched. The arrest will also soon be made. The people should know that Usman Buzdar, the IGP and the [Lahore] CCPO were in a meeting until 4 am. The CM himself has monitored the entire case,” he tweeted.

    “Actions speak louder than words,” Dr Gill added.

    Earlier in the day, Dr Gill, in a vaguely-worded tweet, had said thanked Allah for his help and for listening to the prayers of the people.

    LAHORE-SIALKOT MOTORWAY RAPE CASE:

    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.

  • ARY says prime suspect of motorway gang-rape case arrested; govt says that’s not true

    ARY says prime suspect of motorway gang-rape case arrested; govt says that’s not true

    Punjab police have arrested the prime suspect of the motorway gang-rape case, ARY has reported citing sources; but the claim has been dismissed by the senior-most police officer of Punjab as well as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill.

    According to reports, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani has dismissed reports that a suspect in the Lahore motorway rape case had been arrested, terming them as incorrect. 

    “News on the arrest of a suspect on TV channels and social media are incorrect,” said IGP Ghani, adding that he would share any development in the case with media as he was monitoring the investigation himself.

    “Such unconfirmed news affects the case and is also misleading for the public,” said the top cop.

    He also said that pictures of the woman and the suspects being shared on social media were fake, and urged media to not run reports before confirming them. “We will soon arrest the accused and bring them to justice,” Ghani vowed.

    Earlier, ARY cited Punjab government sources as saying that search for the second suspect involved in the gang-rape was underway.

    The claim was, however, also dismissed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, who said it was incorrect but the police were working hard.

    The tweet was followed by ARY Senior Executive Vice President Ammad Yousaf’s statement that the media organisation stood by its story.

    It wasn’t later that Dr Gill tweeted back.

    What do you think is going on? Let The Current know in the comments below

  • ‘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.

  • Mobile service suspension on Ashura

    Mobile service suspension on Ashura

    The Punjab government has decided to suspend cellphone and wireless phone services in the areas surrounding the routes of Muharram 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday) processions, a notification stated.

    Multiple reports suggest the government has been proposed to suspend the service only in the areas where Majalis and the Muharram procession would be held.

    According to the notification, the Punjab government has sought timings and further details from the district administrations of the seven cities — Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Jehlum, Chiniot, Okara and Bahawalpur — where cellular services will be suspended.

    The notification also directs district administrations to keep the provincial government in the loop while taking steps in this regard. It further says to send timings, during which the service will remain unavailable, to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    It is worth mentioning that mobile services are suspended every year during Ashura as part of security measures. However, it is expected that people will face fewer problems as the federal government has declared the two days as public holidays.

    In the past, mobile phone service used to remain suspended till the processions reach their respective destinations, but for the last few years, it was observed that the service was suspended in the selective areas or for less duration as the security situation has improved over the years.