Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has claimed that she was given “rat-infested food” by Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail staff during her imprisonment.
In a conversation with journalists at Jati Umrah, the PML-N leader claimed that not only her food was contaminated, but she was also provided with medications that were rotten due to fungus. “They were not fit for use at all,” she claimed.
Maryam, whose popularity has quadrupled since the disqualification of her father ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a corruption case, has gone to jail twice — once after conviction in the Avenfield case, second time was her alleged involvement in a sugar mills scam.
The new accusations against the government came a fortnight after the PML-N VP claimed that cameras were installed in her jail room to humiliate her. The politician had said that if she revealed the details about how she and other female inmates were treated during detention, “they” will find no place to hide their faces.
“I don’t want to hide behind these incidents at all. I’m struggling today, so I don’t want to show that I was affected; I don’t want to cry today that I have been abused,” she had said.
Responding to the claim that Maryam was fed contaminated food, PM’s aide on accountability Shahzad Akbar accused the PML-N leader of concealing the truth. He said: “It’s on record that the food Maryam used to get in jail came from her home.” He said either Maryam is lying about it or the Sharifs’ residence is infested with rats.
یہ ریکارڈ کی بات ہے کہ ان خاتون نے ایک دن بھی جیل کا اٹھانا نہیں کھایا اور کھانا ہمیشہ گھر سے آتا تھا اب سوال یہ بنتا ہے کہ یا تو چوہا گھر کا تھا یا خاندانی روایت کے مطابق پھر جھوٹ بول رہی ہیں ویسے “شریف” چوہے لگتے ہیں جو کھانا چھوڑ دیتے تھے ! https://t.co/JqDNdRnWg6
On July 6, 2018, Maryam was sentenced to seven years in jail by the NAB on corruption charges in the Avenfield reference case.
The court had held that trust deeds presented by Maryam before the apex court were fake and had been tampered with. As a result, she was disqualified from contesting elections for 10 years.
The next day, Maryam announced that she would return to Pakistan on July 13 to file an appeal against the decision. The same day, NAB announced to arrest her and Nawaz Sharif upon their arrival in Pakistan.
She, along with her father, was taken into custody on July 13 upon their arrival at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and were airlifted to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
On July 26, she challenged her sentence in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and filed a petition for bail. The next day, the court rejected her request for release on bail and adjourned the hearing till the end of the 2018 general election on July 25.
While she was released following the suspension of the verdict against her father, husband and herself by the IHC, Maryam was once again arrested in August 2019 over Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption charges; this time upon her arrival at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore to see Nawaz, who was serving his sentence in a separate corruption case.
In November 2019, Maryam was released on bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz thinks it is unsafe to conduct medical entry tests due to coronavirus, but it is perfectly okay to organise massive political gatherings amid a second wave of the virus.
In a tweet, the PML-N leader expressed solidarity with the protesting students. She questioned why the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT 2020) was being held when educational institutions have been closed due to the virus.
While all educational institutions are closed and exams are being postponed, MDCAT students are being forced to appear for NMDCAT test by PMC. Isn't safety of medical students& safety of their families not as important? Why the discrimination? Why imperil them & their families?
“While all educational institutions are closed and exams are being postponed, MDCAT students are being forced to appear for MDCAT test by PMC,” tweeted Maryam, expressing concern for the families of the students.
But it seems the PML-N leader wants to use the medical entry tests issue to gain political mileage, and coronavirus is just an excuse. The PML-N leader has no plan to postpone her Multan rally despite the soaring tally of COVID cases and repeated government directives.
According to local media reports, the PML-N vice president said that she will go ahead with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in the southern Punjab city.
“I am taking part in the rally on instructions of my father Nawaz Sharif,” Maryam said, adding that her father has told her to carry on her political activities despite the loss of her grandmother. Shamim Akhtar who died in London on Sunday will be brought back by the end of this week.
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has refused to admit the role of the opposition rallies in the spread of coronavirus infections. He said the virus doesn’t spread by organising rallies and asked for relevant data to prove him wrong.
Meanwhile, the Multan district administration has refused to grant permission for the rally in the wake of the increase in coronavirus infections. “We have not allowed public gatherings because of COVID-19,” Deputy Commissioner Amir Khattak was quoted by a local media outlet as saying.
COVID CASES IN PAKISTAN:
Pakistan has reported over 3,300 infections for the second time in day, while at least 40 people have died due to the virus. Despite quasi-lockdown restrictions, the number is on the rise with people paying no heed to the SOPs.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre, Muzaffarabad has reported the highest positivity ratio at 17.05%.
Peshawar has reported the second-highest positivity ratio at 15.64%, following by Hyderabad and Karachi with 14.40% and 14.02% positivity rate, respectively. In Rawalpindi, Multan, and Mirpur, the positivity rate is over 10%.
The video of a man in Gilgit removing a Pakistani flag from a burning car has gone viral on social media.
The black car is believed to belong to a Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) minister and was set on fire during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) protest against alleged rigging in the recently held elections.
The video shows a man running towards the car and taking the flag off the bonnet.
Widespread, even violent, protests are being held in the northern region against what the PPP has termed a “stolen” election on November 15.
Videos from the area have shown people thronging the streets of and accusing Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of winning the maximum number of seats by rigging.
Earlier, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had alleged irregularities in the elections.
My election has been stolen. I will be joining the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their protest shortly.
“My election has been stolen. I will be joining the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their protest shortly,” he had tweeted as early as initial results had started pouring in while Maryam Nawaz of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had accused the PTI of “pre-poll rigging”.
In spite of a ban on the trade of falcons under wildlife protection laws, the federal government has granted permission to Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, to export 150 falcons of rare species from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates.
According to a report in Dawn, the Dubai ruler needed younger falcons to hunt houbara bustards, and a permission in this regard has been issued by the foreign ministry.
The permit issued on Sept 15 this year read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs…has the honour to inform that the esteemed embassy may export one hundred and fifty (150) falcons from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for personal use of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, vice president of UAE and ruler of Dubai, from Karachi/Bahawalpur/Rahim Yar Khan/Islamabad/Quetta.”
“In this regard, the concerned authorities have been requested to accord facilitation for the export of one hundred and fifty (150) falcons from Pakistan to UAE,” the notification read.
The permission, however, will create challenges for Pakistan as it is a member of various wildlife conservation treaties. The newspaper reported that Pakistan is a signatory to treaties that ensure the protection of wildlife, such as the Switzerland-based Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Also, due to a ban on the trade of rare falcons, there are no markets in the country that would deal in the ‘legal trade’ of these species, which meant that the Arab exporter will have to seek these birds in the black market. By allowing this trade, the government and the exporter will be guilty of patronising this illegal wildlife trafficking, the news report added.
In addition, the export of these birds would also hurt Pakistan’s standing in the eyes of the European Union and the country may lose the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus for violating international conservation treaties, the newspaper quoted sources as saying.
The GSP+ status facilitates the easy access of Pakistani exports to the highly lucrative market of the European Union.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has tested positive for coronavirus a day after the test results of his political secretary Jameel Soomro came back positive.
I have tested positive for #COVIDー19 & am self isolating with mild symptoms. I‘ll continue working from home & will be addressing PPP foundation day via video link. Wear a mask everyone, see you on the other side IA 🙏
In a tweet, Bilawal shared that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has mild symptoms. “I have tested positive for #COVIDー19 & am self isolating with mild symptoms. I‘ll continue working from home & will be addressing PPP foundation day via video link. Wear a mask everyone, see you on the other side IA,” the PPP chief shared.
The PPP chief was planning to host Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) gathering at Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium in Multan on November 30 to mark the party’s 53rd foundation day. However, now he will be addressing the event via video link.
Meanwhile, Bilawal House, Karachi, also went into lockdown after Soomro tested positive for the virus. Its staffers, including security guards, were barred from entering the house without negative test reports. According to reports, the directives were issued by former president Asif Ali Zardari.
It may be mentioned here that the PDM — an anti-government alliance that the PPP is a part of — held a rally in Peshawar last week in spite of ban on the political gathering in the wake of an increase in COVID cases. There has been a significant increase in the cases over the past few weeks, with Pakistan reporting over 3,000 cases on Nov 25 — for the first time since July.
Islamabadis are in for a treat as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to open a drive-in cinema in the city next month.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat shared the news while responding to a Twitter user, who suggested that a car cinema should be opened in Islamabad given the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Sir given, we have Covid-19 on the rise and there can’t be any big gathering in the city, how about DC office plan a car theatre every weekend in F9 until things are back to normal. Food vendors can put stalls and serve in cars,” said Twitter user Faizan Khan.
Replying to his tweet, DC Islamabad hinted that the Islamabad administration is planning to launch a car cinema next month.
Working on it. We plan to have a car cinema next month. Stay tuned 🎬 https://t.co/rx2ZcHDCZd
Later, the official Twitter account of CDA Islamabad tweeted that that authority is working towards setting up an “open-air cinema of international standards” in the city.
In view of current situation, cinema will be prepared while implementing Corona SOPs. Citizens will be able to enjoy cinema by sitting in their cars in view of Corona concerns. 🙏🇵🇰🇵🇰#CDA#driveinislamabad#atyourservice
— Capital Development Authority – CDA, Islamabad (@CDAthecapital) November 25, 2020
Drive-in cinemas have gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people are forced to maintain physical distance. Several countries around the world have set up car cinemas to keep their citizens entertained during the lockdown while following SOPs.
International airport in LithuaniaDortmund, Germany Marl, GermanyMall of the Emirates, DubaiAustin, TexasSeoul, South Korea A technical museum in Speyer, Germany
Whopping losses of Rs122 billion were inflicted to the national exchequer in the petroleum sector alone due to fallout of illogical delays and misguided decisions, but the prime minister (PM) and his teammates are not prepared to disclose as to who benefitted from the damage, journalist Shahzeb Khanzada has claimed.
During his show on Geo News, the journalist claimed deliberate falsehood was spread in the media by ministers and the special advisers who, instead of owning the decisions, hold the media, bureaucracy or the past governments responsible.
While he also accused the government of losing taxpayers’ money to the tune of Rs400 billion in wheat and sugar scandals and taking no action against the ministers responsible, Khanzada raised the question about delayed purchase of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in August and September.
“In July, the LNG was available at 5.7 per cent for August but the government instead of timely tender purchased the commodity in August at the inflated rates of 9.3 per cent that turned out to be $5 million more expensive and the next bid further heaped a loss of $2.5 million. The same was repeated in the purchase of LNG for September in August.”
He said it was available at 6.9 per cent but the timely decision was delayed and then suddenly in September it was decided to purchase the cargo which cost 10.8 per cent. These two cargos alone cost the country Rs1.5 billion. When Special Adviser to Prime Minister (SAPM) Nadeem Babar was asked about it, he blamed K-Electric and accused it of suddenly raising the August and September demand instead of raising advance warning of depleting stocks.
When Federal Minister for Power and Petroleum Omar Ayub was asked if he did not know of the required demand in time, he said the power utility had not intimated of the demand and the load shedding duration in Karachi was increasing prompting the federal government to release their stocks for K Electric.
But, according to Khanzada, the true picture is entirely different from that being stated.
In the last few years, there were differences between the government and the K-Electric due to non-negotiation of a new agreement, The News reported. The power utility kept on demanding gas from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on the basis of allocation. But the government denied that on the pretext that there was no prior agreement. The confusion led to a severe power crisis in Karachi.
Back in April 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Energy decided that the Karachi power utility be provided 130 MMCFD gas from the SSGC and 60 MMCFD LNG. Under the agreement, K-Electric kept getting 190 MMCFD since 2018. But SAPM Nadeem Babar and Federal Minister Omar Ayub erroneously claimed that the sudden raising of demand by the Karachi power utility in August and September forced them to tender expensive gas.
MMCFD stands for million standard cubic feet per day.
The anchor maintained the federal government provided K-Electric 198 MMCFD LNG in June, and 121 MMCFD LNG in July but reduced it to 73 MMCFD LNG in August and 66 MMCFD LNG in September. This clearly shows that the K Electric had not suddenly raised the demand in August and September but the government in fact had reduced the amount of gas supply. Not only this was far reduced than the amount given during June and July but was equivalent to the gas supply provided in August and September last year.
There was no justification for purchasing the LNG late in those months, Shahzeb maintained. The prime minister must ask his cabinet why the treasury was inflicted massive loss of Rs 1.5 bn because of this incompetency. Khanzada said when in June the petroleum crisis emerged why the government failed to import the fuel. Both SAPM Nadeem Babar and Federal Minister Omar Ayub blamed fuel companies and announced a thorough probe the results of which are still awaited. Due to this, the refineries had run out of furnace oil stocks and there was nothing left for K-Electric. Here once again the responsibility was lumped on the Karachi power utility.
In January 2019, the government banned the import of furnace oil and the PM ordered cheaper power generation through coal and LNG. It was decided that if need arise the K-Electric would be asked to procure furnace oil from the refineries. Against this scenario, K Electric could not have imported the furnace oil on its own. Furthermore due situation emerging out of Covid-19, the refineries had run short of furnace oil. Primarily, it was the responsibility of the government to monitor the fuel stocks. They must have imported LNG when it was cheaply available globally.
In June, the second LNG terminal was running only at its 45 per cent capacity but the government did nothing. In April, the K-Electric had informed the government in advance of its requirement of 120,000-tonne furnace oil for June.
But in June, the demand was increased to 130,000 tonne furnace oil but the PSO only provided 69,000 tonnes as the refineries had run short of furnace oil. In June 2019, PSO had provided 113,000 tonne furnace oil.
The PSO had informed the Ministry of Petroleum of the increased demand by K Electric on June 2, 2020, while reminding it of the May 19 directive by the Ministry of Petroleum to the refineries to supply maximum furnace oil.
But to this day, there has been no confirmation about it nor the allocation was increased. The PSO had intimated the Ministry of Petroleum of the impending crisis due to shortage of furnace oil, but it was not imported.
Similarly, the LNG was available at rock bottom prices but even that was not imported, causing power and fuel crisis in the country leading to losses running into billions of rupees, Khanzada said. He said the criticality of the situation forced the government to import furnace oil in panic at the last moment.
The anchor said ever since the inauguration of the PTI government, this was not the first time the gas crisis had occurred, but the central government ministers blamed the K Electric and the Sindh government for it.
In 2018 winters, a similar gas crisis had created severe problems for the people, but the government did not import the LNG in time nor it owed its responsibility for it and by blaming the MDs of the SNGPL and SSGC instead sacked them. This negligence led to power production using expensive furnace oil in 2018. In Dec 2018, the power sector was given 200 MMCFD gas which generated only 1,200 MW power instead of the needed 2,600MW. Furthermore, 1,600MW was produced by furnace oil which increased its daily consumption from 4,200 tonnes to 18,000 tonnes. The expensive power generation caused a loss of Rs 10 billion. When the then Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar was asked that though the SSGC and SNGPL MDs were sacked but if the Ministry of Petroleum and Ministry of Power had “in time “raised gas demand or if the two MDs had to import LNG on their own, Sarwar conceded that the meeting was held late in December.
Today the situation is being repeated in exactly the same manner and expensive power is being generated by furnace oil. Omar Ayub is continues to be the Minister for Oil and Power, while Ghulam Sarwar’s portfolio has been changed to that of aviation. He has, however, struck disaster with the national airline and the pilots. Nothing has changed, no responsibility has been affixed on the members of the cabinet.
Even today cheap LNG is available globally. In July, once again expensive power was generated from furnace oil at 18 month high rates and even then the gas is not available for bitter winters.
Khanzada said that from October to January one million tonnes furnace oil needs to be imported, expensive power would be generated, forex would be wasted with an additional loss of Rs25 billion.
GOVT RESPONDS:
Reacting to the report on Wednesday, PM’s petroleum aide said that LNG terminals are being run on full capacity while arrangements are being made to import around 1,300 cubic feet of LNG to meet domestic needs.
The special assistant said that it’s unfortunate that a negative media campaign is being run against the government about LNG through fudged statistics.
Addressing a press conference along with Information Minister Shibli Faraz, he said that the present government has imported 35 cargo ships of LNG in the last 27 months at a 20 per cent low rate as compared to expensive LNG agreements signed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) previous government with Qatar.
Babar said that the government has also allowed the private sector to construct LNG terminals in the country and two companies have shown their readiness to establish these facilities in Pakistan. In addition, he said that the last PML-N government had established two LNG terminals with the government’s guarantee of running these facilities, inflicting a huge loss to the treasury.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) chairman Ahad Cheema in an alleged corruption case.
Cheema, who was a close aide of former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, was detained in Feb 2018 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Ashiana Housing scam. However, the accountability bureau also opened another inquiry against him for possessing assets beyond means.
During the hearing, the apex court directed the former top civil servant to furnish surety bonds worth Rs1 million to secure the bail. The NAB lawyer opposed the bail plea, saying Cheema was a key accused in the case.
At this, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood asked whether the accused doesn’t deserve bail due to the delay in the case.
Cheema’s lawyer responded that his client has been in jail for two years and nine months. Bail is granted in case of undue delay, he added.
Earlier this year, the Lahore High Court had dismissed a bail plea filed by Cheema, even though the co-accused in the case were granted post-arrest bail. Subsequently, ex-LDA chief’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarrar moved the apex court, seeking bail.
ARREST OF FOMRER LDA CHIEF:
In Feb 2018, NAB arrested Cheema after the latter failed to show up on NAB hearings. At the time, NAB had stated that that the inquiry conducted by the bureau “produced sufficient evidence to prove LDA ex-DG’s involvement in the Ahsiana scam”.
In its official press release issued at the time, it said that the Punjab Land Development Company assigned the Ashiana Housing Scheme project to LDA, where Cheema as its DG misused his authority and received illegal gratification in the form of 32 kanals of land, valuing approximately Rs30 million from the owners of Paragon City. The accused also awarded the contract for the project to Lahore Casa Developers, that was ineligible for the contract.
It may be noted here ex-CM Shehbaz Sharif and former principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad were also accused in Ashiana case.
Six major generals have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced.
In a tweet, the military’s media wing said those promoted included Maj Gen Akhtar Nawaz , Maj Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, Maj Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghani, Maj Gen Sarfraz Ali and Maj Gen Muhammad Ali.
Promotions in the #Army : 6 Major Generals have been promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant General. Those promoted include MG Akhtar Nawaz , MG Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat, MG Asif Ghafoor, MG Salman Fayyaz Ghani , MG Sarfraz Ali,MG Muhammad Ali.
Asif Ghafoor, who is among the most prominent recipients of the promotion, has previously served as the ISPR director general. He was appointed to the post in December 2016, replacing Lt Gen Asim Bajwa as the military’s spokesperson.
Reacting to the news, Federal Minster for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said it was an hounour to serve in the highest ranks of the army.
Serving in the highest ranks of #PakArmy is an honour, many congratulations to all very well deserved officers for the honours bestowed upon them and best wishes…. https://t.co/bIZzlIxSic
“Serving in the highest ranks of #PakArmy is an honour. Many congratulations to all very well deserved officers for the honours bestowed upon them and best wishes,” he tweeted.
Days after the prime minister’s visit to the University of Turbat, the Balochistan chief secretary has written a letter to the Makran commissioner, asking him to explain “the shortcomings” observed during the visit of PM Imran Khan.
The letter that has been circulating on social media has been shared by many, including Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal as well, who sarcastically captioned it ‘viceregal’ attitude of the centre.
The Current has confirmed the veracity of this letter
The chief secretary asked the commissioner — who was supposed to supervise the arrangements — to explain why “each and every detailed instructions passed on to you” were not carried out in “letter and spirit”.
It says the PM was served soft drinks that were not “properly chilled” and the plates that were used to serve food to the PM and his entourage were also of “low quality”. The sweeping staff was also reportedly inefficient as the “pathways and washrooms remained dirty” despite instructions.
The commissioner was also asked to explain the unavailability of a “qualified person” to handle the operating system “complications” during the presentation. Also, there was no “spare laptop” in the meeting room.
Furthermore, the chief secretary office was also not pleased with the fact that the CS’s chair was not “marked” in the auditorium where the PM interacted with “notables” while the CS was made to sit at the “extreme corner of the first row”, as per the letter. “The seating arrangement for the administrative secretaries to the government of Balochistan was neither marked nor were they were invited in the auditorium,” it added.
Moreover, there was also complaints about the Turbat’s DC and SSP, who allegedly violated protocol by “walking too close to the PM”. “The SSP Turbat consistently tried to engage the PM in chit chat,” the letter mentioned, seeking a response on the above-mentioned “shortcomings” from the commissioner within 7 days.
On Friday, PM Imran Khan visited Turbat district to inaugurate development projects in the city. During the visit, the PM also went to Turbat University.
The Current approached the PM’s focal person on digital media, Dr Arslan Khalid for the confirmation of this letter. According to Dr Khalid, the prime minister has nothing to do with the letter. He said it was a matter of the provincial government. Sources in the provincial government also confirmed the veracity of the letter, saying it was issued by the office of the chief secretary.
