Tag: topnews

  • ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    ‘Sleeping on floor with just one sheet’; how Rana Sanaullah spent his first night in jail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and MNA Rana Sanaullah, who was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday, spent his first night in jail sleeping on the floor, a private media outlet has reported.

    Rana was taken into custody by the ANF while on his way to Faisalabad for a party meeting. Being intercepted on the motorway by an ANF team in Sukheki, he was detained for allegedly possessing a huge stash of heroin.

    With an anti-narcotics court sending the PML-N leader and other accused to prison on a 14-day judicial remand Tuesday, a news outlet has revealed how Sanaullah’s first night in jail went.

    According to reports, the lawmaker spent the night sleeping on the floor of Barrack No. 6 at Lahore’s Camp Jail, where he was provided with just a single sheet to sleep on.

    The PML-N leader was shifted to his cell after jail authorities emptied all neighbouring barracks, while the five other accused were kept in the old block of the prison.

    Sanaullah was arrested days after a large-scale crackdown on drug peddlers in Punjab was launched. Latest reports claim the MNA would be given B-class facilities in jail.

    Jail officials say B-class facilities include a newspaper, television, bed, table and chair, besides some other items.

  • 41% people happy over Zardari’s arrest, 31% unaffected: survey

    A recent survey has revealed that 41% of Pakistanis are happy over the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari, while the development has left 31% people unaffected.

    As per the details, the Gilani Research Foundation survey, based on a sample size of 1,386 men and women, was conducted in both urban and rural areas of all four provinces of the country from June 15-24.

    Among other answers, just 22% Pakistanis said they were upset, 2% remarked that they did not hear about the matter and 4% commented that they were either not aware or did not wish to respond.

    Former president Zardari was arrested on June 10 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials and is accused of plotting to “misappropriate and launder” money out of the country through fake bank accounts.

    Other allegations against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman include his use of Omni Group “front men” as associates in crime and receiving millions in cash.

  • Govt increases tax on Landa clothes by 5pc

    Govt increases tax on Landa clothes by 5pc

    In the budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, the Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has increased withholding tax on secondhand clothes by 5 per cent.

    Reports quoted the Pakistan Second Hand Clothing Merchants
    Association (PSHCMA) as saying that the tax on used clothes has been increased
    from 1 per cent to 6 per cent, effective July 1 – start of the new fiscal year.

    The development is expected to pave way for an increase in
    the costs of secondhand clothes by at least five per cent — something that
    could’ve been bought for Rs200 earlier, can now cost you Rs210; Rs500, Rs525.

    Urging the government to bring down the withholding tax amid rupee depreciation against the dollar, members of the association have also demanded that 10 per cent regulatory duty (RD) on used clothes import be removed.

    Pakistan imports used ladies garments, gents’ trousers and
    shirts, blankets, warm clothing, winter garments, shoes etc mainly from the
    United States (US) and Europe. Landa Bazar is a marketplace where all these secondhand
    goods are sold at cheaper rates.

    According to the figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
    (PBS), import of worn clothing has risen to 426,797 tonnes valuing $165 million
    against 404,737 tonnes worth $148m in the last fiscal year.

    However, the development suggests that the trend might not
    live long with even used clothes and other items being out of reach for low-income
    groups.

  • PTI MPA seeks ‘corrective surgery and appropriate measures’ for transgender kids

    PTI MPA seeks ‘corrective surgery and appropriate measures’ for transgender kids

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Shahina Karim on Wednesday submitted in the Punjab Assembly a resolution to safeguard the rights of transgender children, ARY News reported.

    “Most of the times during childbirth, the kid is not transgender, but is presumed so,” the resolution read.

    “Such a child can be assigned gender after corrective surgery and appropriate measures so that they too can spend life like a man or a woman,” the resolution stated further.

    The move comes amid rising numbers of transgender persons’ killings across the country. Just last week, a 19-year-old transgender woman was found “riddled with bullets” beside a river bank.

    The teenager’s father and uncle were arrested for her murder.

  • GRAPHIC CONTENT: Firing at Lahore airport kills two

    GRAPHIC CONTENT: Firing at Lahore airport kills two

    At least two people were killed and another injured when an unknown assailant opened fire at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.

    According to the police, the suspect was taken into custody by the Airport Security Forces (ASF). The firing, however, caused panic among people which led to a stampede.

    “The suspect reached the airport in a taxi, while the two deceased had returned home after performing Umra,” reports quoted a police official as saying.

    The incident took place at the arrival/waiting area outside the main airport building. Footage available with The Current shows the deceased man lying on the floor with two women sitting next to the body.

    Heavy contingents of police reached the airport to secure the premises. The entry of vehicles at the airport was also barred as a precaution.

    A debate has sparked over the ASF’s failure to stop the flow of weapons into the airport premises.

    This is a developing story.

  • Adding to arrested leaders’ misery: PM orders amending production order law

    Adding to arrested leaders’ misery: PM orders amending production order law

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has ordered to amend the
    parliamentary procedure of issuing production orders that are necessary for a
    detained lawmaker to attend assembly sessions, a private media outlet reported
    Tuesday.

    “Money launderers and financially corrupt individuals should
    not be facilitated via production orders,” the premier reportedly said while chairing
    a cabinet meeting to discuss corruption inquiries and the economic situation of
    the country.

    Stating that people facing corruption inquiries cannot be
    awarded the status of political prisoners, PM Imran ordered the Law Ministry
    for further action and possible amendments to the law, reports said.

    The move comes after National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad
    Qaiser issued production orders for former president Asif Ali Zardari, who was
    arrested by the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB) last month.

    Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hamza
    Shehbaz and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur were brought to
    the Punjab and Sindh assemblies, respectively, after the speakers concerned
    issued their production orders.

    Earlier in the day, an appeal submitted to the Supreme Court
    (SC) also challenged the production orders of opposition leaders arrested over
    corruption allegations. The application challenged the production orders issued
    by speakers of the national and provincial assemblies.

    The appeal also sought nullification of the production
    orders citing that such orders can’t be issued when the accused is under
    physical remand of a law enforcement agency.

  • Pakistan beats Israel in global military strength rankings

    Pakistan has beaten Israel in the Global Firepower (GFP) Military Strength Index 2019, according to data released by the group on its official website.

    The list by GFP relies on more than 50 factors to assign the 137 countries included in the survey an individual Power Index (PI) score, based upon their conventional war-making capability across land, sea and air.

    According to the 2019 GFP Index, Pakistan’s armed forces have been ranked the 15th most powerful in the world, beating Israel and other countries, including oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

    The ranking also includes factors concerning the respective states’ economic muscle and geographical characteristics. The report details Pakistan’s present military strength at 654,000 army personnel, 786 jet aircraft and 2,200 operational tanks.

    In addition, Pakistan’s naval capacity stands at a total of 197 vessels.

    Israel’s armed forces, on the other hand, have been ranked 17th, with a total of 170,000 military personnel, 506 warplanes and 2,760 tanks. Its naval strength stands at 65 assets.

    The ranking comes amid a flare in tensions between Pakistan and Israel, owing to alleged Israeli involvement in the failed February 26 airstrikes by India in Balakot.

  • Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    The Punjab government has decided to withdraw food-from-home facility for former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.

    According to media reports, the jail administration, anytime this week, would order the withdrawal of the facility that Nawaz has been availing since his days in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

    After the withdrawal of the facility, the former premier would have to be content with the jail food — which according to Nawaz’s family, is “unfit to consume” considering his deteriorating health.

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa had last month rejected a petition by the ex-PM for an extension in the bail granted to him on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference.

    It was followed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also rejecting his bail plea. Nawaz had been granted bail on medical grounds by the apex court on March 26 for six weeks.

    On April 25, he had submitted a review petition in the SC seeking a permanent bail. His bail expired on May 7.

  • Indian leader encourages ‘Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women’

    Indian leader encourages ‘Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women’

    A leader of the hardliner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been removed from her position in the party’s women wing after she encouraged “Hindu brothers to gang rape Muslim women openly in the streets”, Indian media reported.

    “Muslim mothers and sisters should have their honour looted as there is no other way to protect India,” said Sunita Singh Gaur in a Facebook post.

    The viral post was later deleted; however, with screenshots being posted all over Twitter, Gaur was sacked as the Mahila Morcha leader.

    “Be assured, BJP Mahila Morcha will not tolerate any hateful comments whatsoever from any karyakarta [worker],” BJP Mahila Morcha National President Vijaya Rahatkar said.

    This is not the first time a member of BJP has spewed hate online. However, many were shocked to see the leader openly encourage rape and sexual violence.

  • UAE PM writes poem to condemn ‘runaway’ wife, Princess Haya of Jordan

    UAE PM writes poem to condemn ‘runaway’ wife, Princess Haya of Jordan

    Prime Minister (PM) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has written a furious poem criticising the “treachery and betrayal” of his wife.

    His wife and the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, secretly fled to Europe with their son Zayed, 7, and daughter Al Jalila, 11, last week. She is also the half-sister of King Abdullah II.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBI5aChdCT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Al-Maktoum, 69, is known for frequently marking great occasions of state and family events such as weddings, in verse.

    “You Lived and You Died” is the new poem, which appears to have been written by the prince in outrage at his wife’s decision to leave.

    “Some mistakes are known as betrayal, and you have transgressed and betrayed,” the poem begins. “You traitor, you betrayed the most precious trust, you exposed your games and nature,” he adds in the piece.

    The royal then continues to accuse his wife of lying, suggesting the claim was backed by evidence.

    “You no longer have a place within me, go to who has kept you occupied,” he wrote, ending with “I do not care whether you live or die”.

    While the subject behind the poem was not disclosed by al-Maktoum, the tone suggests it was addressed to a woman who had betrayed him.

    Princess Haya is believed to have initially sought asylum in Germany, while reports claim her application has been approved in principle.

    According to reports, she is also said to be seeking refuge in the United Kingdom (UK) as her preference is to live in London, where she is currently said to be residing at a secret location.