A session court in Islamabad has sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a fraud case on Wednesday.
After the end of a one-day physical remand, Fawad Chaudhry was brought before the judicial magistrate, Yasir Mehmood.
The former minister’s council, Qamar Inayat, requested that the court remove his client’s handcuffs, to which the court agreed.
The lawyer asked for time to hold consultations, upon which the court ordered a 15-minute break.
After the break, Fawad Chaudhry told the court that it’s the third hearing, but a complainant has not been presented. After that, the court announced its decision to send Chaudhry on a 14-day judicial remand to Adiala jail.
Later, Fawad Chaudhry said in his media talk that Nawaz Sharif should play a role in decreasing political tension.
G7 foreign ministers said Wednesday that they supported “humanitarian pauses and corridors” in the Hamas-Israel war but refrained from calling for a ceasefire.
The group also said after talks in Japan that their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia “will never waver” while calling on China not to support Moscow in the conflict.
“We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza… We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages,” a joint statement said.
The ministers also “emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law as it seeks to prevent a recurrence” of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.
It added: “We call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilize the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors, and to use its influence with those groups to de-escalate regional tensions.”
‘Overall security’
The Israeli military has relentlessly bombarded Gaza since October 7, when Hamas militants launched an attack that left 1,400 dead in Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
The Hamas-run health ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 10,300 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire unless more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas were freed.
He also said Israel would assume “overall security” in Gaza after the war ended, while allowing for possible “tactical pauses” before then to free captives and deliver aid to the besieged territory.
However, Washington said Tuesday it opposed a new long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.
The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s jail trial and the controversial cipher case took center stage in Islamabad this week.
On Tuesday, three witnesses provided their testimonies against the PTI chief and his party’s Vice Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Judge Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings at Adiala jail under the special Official Secrets Act court. PTI legal representatives included Barristers Salman Safdar, Taimur, and Gohar Ali Khan, while special prosecutors comprised of Shah Khawar, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, and Raja Rizwan Abbasi.
During the proceedings, PTI’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan, raised concerns over the trial’s confined space within the jail premises, emphasizing that it wasn’t in line with legal protocols.
Family members met the two leaders before witnesses’ statements and cross-examination were conducted; legal teams consulted with Khan and Qureshi. The PTI chief met with his wife Bushra Bibi and sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum, and Uzma Khan, within the jail premises.
Qureshi’s daughter, Meharbano, was also present during the trial. She also spoke with the media outside the jail, and demanded justice and a fair trial for her father.
“Let the family in; no one can have security concerns from their family. Fair trial is my father’s right and as a daughter, I have the right to see the trial,” she added.
Contempt of court petition
Adiala jail superintendent responded to the contempt of court petition filed by Khan on Wednesday, requesting the court to dismiss the contempt of court petition.
“Can’t even think of disobeying the court order,” he stated in his reply.
The superintendent told the court there is no permanent facility to make phone calls abroad on WhatsApp. He informed the court that the PTI chief spoke with his children on October 18, after the jail took special measures to make the call possible.
“Arrangements are made for prisoners to speak with family and lawyers at the jail PCO,” he said, adding that the court can direct the Punjab Home Department to amend the rules with regard to making phone calls.
The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of the contempt petition till Monday due to the absence of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.
Islamabad High Court
Islamabad High Court’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the Attorney General of Pakistan to ensure that the cipher case trial was not conducted in an inappropriate manner, otherwise, it might collapse like a house of cards.
An IHC bench, comprising Justice Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the intra-court appeal filed by Khan against his jail trial and the appointment of the special court’s judge in the cipher case.
The court adjourned the proceedings to November 14, allowing time for the attorney general to present arguments.
Nawaz wants his own umpires
Talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Umair Niazi said the PTI chief had criticised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and also rejected the trial of civilians in military courts.
The PTI lawyer quoted Mr Khan as saying that Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires and is again looking towards them. All political parties, except the PML-N, are calling for a level playing field, he added.
Khan expressed concern over the fresh wave of terrorism in the country and said this was because of a “weak” Afghan policy as Mr Bhutto-Zardari, being the foreign minister, did not visit Kabul to address the issue of terrorism.
Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif will visit Balochistan on November 13, marking his first visit within the country after his return to Pakistan on October 21.
Nawaz Sharif will meet more than 20 electable politicians and known political personalities of the province.
According to Samas, the politicians will join PML-N after meeting Sharif.
On the other hand, the PML-N will announce seat adjustment with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
The former prime minister will also meet with the newly formed party structure in Balochistan.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is ready to conduct “free, fair, and transparent” general elections in Pakistan on February 8, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja said on Tuesday.
Sikandar Raja met with caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar at PM House to brief him about preparations for the upcoming general elections in the country.
During the huddle, PM Kakar reassured the CEC that the interim government will fully cooperate with ECP, providing all necessary resources to make the general elections free, fair, and transparent.
PM Kakar also said that the caretaker government will also provide funds and security to make polls possible.
On the other hand, CEC also invited PM Kakar to visit ECP to review preparations for the upcoming elections.
He further said the process of updating electoral lists is in the final phases, and they will soon be dispatched to all respective districts.
The Government of Punjab, after approval from the Chief Minister, has ordered “restricted movement” in some areas of Punjab to combat smog.
The areas of Lahore Division (District Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur), District Gujranwala, District Hafizabad, and District Narowal, have the worst Air Quality Index (AQI), becoming potential hotspots for Conjunctivitis, and will go under lockdown.
From Thursday to Sunday i.e., November 9, 2023, to November 12, 2023, all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gymnasiums, schools
(public and private), and offices (public and private) will remain closed in these areas.
Also, movement of people will be limited to and from these areas by public and private transport.
Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari have agreed to collaborate for the betterment of the country during a recent telephonic conversation, Geo news has revealed.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed their commitment to jointly tackle crucial issues affecting the nation.
Zardari reportedly extended congratulations to Sharif on his return to Pakistan on October 21 after spending four years in self-imposed exile in London.
Both leaders underscored the significance of the participation of all stakeholders in the collective effort to steer the country towards stability and progress, according to reliable sources.
Acknowledging the pressing concern of inflation, the leaders also discussed plans to alleviate the burden on the public. In light of their discussion, it is anticipated that a high-level meeting will soon be convened to deliberate on crucial matters.
The timing of their conversation coincided with the directive given to their respective party workers to gear up for the forthcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.
Notably, the PPP and the PML-N were previously coalition partners in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, which came into power following the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, while the news of the conversation has been making rounds, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari downplayed its significance, emphasizing that the PPP remains open to collaborating with all political parties.
Contradicting earlier reports, PPP Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi denied any direct communication between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, urging the public to verify the authenticity of such claims before spreading them.
He took to X (former Twitter) and said, “I would like to clarify that the news of Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Ali Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it.”
I would like to clarify that the news of Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Ali Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it. #FactCheck#fakeNews@AAliZardari@NawazSharifMNS@PPP_Org
In related developments, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday announced that they would be jointly contesting the upcoming general elections scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.
The development comes following a meeting of an MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, and Syed Mustafa Kamal with the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore at the party’s Model Town secretariat.
Later, speaking to the media, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said, “It has been decided that both parties will contest February 8 polls jointly”.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) اور ایم کیوایم کا مشترکہ اعلامیہ
لاہور:7 نومبر
متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان (ایم۔ کیو۔ایم) کے وفد نے ڈاکٹر خالد مقبول صدیقی کی قیادت میں ، جس میں ڈاکٹر فاروق ستار اور مصطفی کمال شامل تھے، نے پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے قائد محمد نوازشریف اور صدر پاکستان مسلم لیگ… pic.twitter.com/38wTv7WaeC
Amidst escalating political activities, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi have reached an agreement to hold the general elections on February 8, adhering to the Supreme Court’s directives following a case regarding the delay of elections.
Following the electoral alliance between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that he welcomes his opponent’s intention to stand in elections.
“We will stand against our opponents that are coming in elections and we welcome them,” Zardari said while addressing party works in Ghotki’s Khangarh.
لائیو: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمٹرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری ضلع گھوٹکی کی تحصیل خان گڑھ میں واقع گوہر پیلس میں کارکنان اور عوام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں https://t.co/7TLos5GmRU
The former president was of the view that when people who oppose each other contest elections then the competition among them delivers the “best results”.
A month has passed since the declaration of war by Israel on Palestine. More than 10,000 people in Gaza have been killed including 4,104 children, while many are still trapped under the debris of destroyed infrastructure. Israeli blockades have led to scarcity of fuel, food and electricity.
‘Little pauses’, no ceasefire: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that there will be no ceasefire until the hostages being held in Gaza are released, adding that only “tactical little pauses” will be accepted.
“An hour here, an hour there – we’ve had them before,” Netanyahu said in an interview with ABC News. “I suppose we’ll check the circumstances, in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods, to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave.”
While many around the world are calling for a ceasefire, the US has urged for a “humanitarian pause” without specifying the duration of the pauses.
Considering the casualties and destruction of Gaza, human rights groups and organisations are calling for an immediate ceasefire.
On the contrary, Hamas has reportedly offered to set hostages free if Palestinian captives are released from Israeli jails.
Netanyahu also told ABC News that Israel would have “overall security responsibility” after the fighting with Hamas is over “for an indefinite period”, implying a continued occupation of the territory.
Job losses costing Palestinians $16m a day
The UN’s labour agency has revealed that job losses in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank are costing Palestinians $16m a day.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported on Monday that 182,000 jobs have been lost in Gaza (61 percent of total employment).
An additional 208,000 jobs losses have been recorded in the occupied West Bank, (24 percent of total employment).
Aid into Gaza
The Palestinian Red Crescent teams received 93 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing on Monday.
The supplies consisted of food, water, relief items, medical equipment and medications.
Since October 21, a total of 569 trucks have been sent whereas before October 7, 750 to 850 trucks used to enter Gaza daily.
Israel, however, has still not allowed fuel into Gaza.
Yesterday, the Palestine Red Crescent teams received 93 trucks loaded with aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing. These trucks are carrying essential supplies such as food, water, relief items, medical equipment, and medications.
The police on Tuesday found a bag containing an explosive device in Gorakhpur near Adiala jail, where the hearing of the cipher case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled for today.
According to police, the bomb disposal squad also confirmed that the bag had explosive material.
“The suspicious bag was packed with high-grade explosives of 1,500 grams,” the bomb disposal squad said.
The explosive device was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) experts. Senior police officers of Rawalpindi police were present at the spot.
The bag with explosives material was found one kilometre away from Adiala jail, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is imprisoned.
The incident came to light during a period when the country is facing terrorist threats from both internal and external extremist organisations, including the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the report of Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 386 security officials lost their lives in first nine months of 2023.
Suspected militants on Tuesday attacked an oil and gas company in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), resulting in two police officials being martyred and three getting injured.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed that the terrorist attack occurred in Drazanda tehsil of DI Khan.
The injured police officials and the bodies were shifted to hospitals, said the DSP. He also confirmed that one of the injured policemen is in a critical condition.
The DSP stated that police officials were deployed for security of the oil company, adding that the search for terrorists is underway.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, stating that strict action is required to wipe out terrorists from Pakistan.
This was the fifth attack on DI Khan in the last few days.
Earlier, on Monday, militants attacked the Gul Imam police station in Tank Area, DI Khan.
