Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked the Afghan government to avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures and look into its governance issues.

    In a press briefing at the Foreign Office (FO), he said Pakistan had repeatedly said it had no favourites in Afghanistan and saw all sides of the conflict as Afghans.

    “It is unfortunate to scapegoat Pakistan for the failures of others; the issues of governance and meltdown of Afghan National Defence Forces need to be looked into — and not just start pointing fingers at Pakistan.”

    “The time has come when the world wants answers to what has been achieved in Afghanistan in these past 20 years. The taxpayer in the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Europe wants to know who is responsible for no achievement. Pakistan will not be apologetic, as we are not accountable nor responsible for the trillions spent and nothing to show for it. No capacity building, no arms, where has everything gone?” remarked Qureshi.

    “Pakistan is against a forceful takeover of Afghanistan. Pakistan does not want a military takeover, as we do not support one. We speak of a political takeover. A military takeover will result in more bloodshed and the people of Afghanistan have suffered and this suffering should end. Leadership inside Afghanistan should rise to the occasion and avoid a military takeover. We urge all sides to show respect for human rights and international humanitarian laws,” said Qureshi.

    “We had made a request to be present there, but unfortunately, it was not accepted,” he said, adding that at the time of India assuming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidency, Pakistan had asked it to operate objectively.

    However, India did not behave in a manner that was befitting of that responsibility, the foreign minister said. “India has been, in our view, in breach of its obligation as president of the Security Council.”

    Pakistan has been facilitating the peace process, and its role has been and will continue to be of a facilitator, the foreign minister said.

    “We cannot guarantee, we can only facilitate,” he said, noting it was up to the Afghans to decide their future, and now the world community was backing Pakistan’s narrative that there is no military solution in Afghanistan.

    While on the request of President Ashraf Ghani, intra-Afghan peace talks were postponed in Islamabad, Pakistan now looks forward to the August 11 peace talks of the troika consisting of Pakistan, China, and Russia with an aim of chartering a political way out for an Afghan-led peace process.

    “We reiterate the need for the effective use of available peace mechanisms,” Qureshi said, adding Pakistan has always stressed the need for talks.

  • ‘Utterly Disgusting’, Twitter reacts to Anchor Imran Khan’s video justifying Noor Mukadam’s murder

    A video clip of television Anchor Imran Khan is making rounds on social media, in which Imran can be heard drawing parallels between Noor Mukadam’s murder and her lack of telephonic conversation with her father.

    Twitter reacted to the video of Imran Khan victim blaming calling it ‘utterly disgusting’. Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/Hebah6291/status/1424959168671272986
    https://twitter.com/spillthechai4/status/1424794056492830723
    https://twitter.com/abdullahsultan/status/1424984419564204042

    Imran reacted to the criticism against him by unapologetically posting a screenshot of Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari’s conversation in a private group, which is a breach of her privacy.

  • Anti-Muslim slogans call for murder at event organised by BJP

    Anti-Muslim slogans call for murder at event organised by BJP

    Inflammatory, anti-Muslim slogans calling for murder were raised in New Delhi, India, on Sunday during a march “against Colonial-era laws” in the country — an event organised by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Upadhyay, reported The Wire.

    The event, organised under the ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’, demanded the end of “colonial-era laws” by implementing a Uniform Civil Code. The event was reportedly held without police permission.

    In photos and videos of the event doing the rounds on social media, violent and inflammatory anti-Muslim slogans were raised at the event, including slogans directly calling for the murder of Muslims. The Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons.

    https://twitter.com/asfreeasjafri/status/1424366863711043587?s=21

    People are questioning why an FIR has been registered against unknown people when their faces are clearly visible.

    Senior Journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted: “Revolting anti-Muslim slogans in heart of the capital is a clear example of hate speech and incitement to violence.”

    “I do not agree with the sedition law or with the phrase anti-national but if ever there was an apt definition of it, it is these men, caught on tape,” tweeted the journalist.

    Indian journalist Smita Sharma tweeted, “Video clips doing the rounds of vitriolic dangerous sloganeering against Muslims in the heart of the capital.”

    Sharma further said, “These are not fringe elements or just stupid crowds. They have been emboldened. Will @DelhiPolice act against these toxic anti-nationals?@CPDelhi.”

    Journalist Maya Mirchandani tweeted, “A group gets permission to hold a sit in at Jantar Mantar supposedly for unity in the country, then raises genocidal slogans against Indian Muslims in the heart of Delhi, a stone’s throw from parliament. Under govt’s nose, under @CPDelhi nose. How? #rightwingextremism #hatespeech”

  • Did Zahir’s mother help cover up Noor’s murder? Investigators look through call logs

    Did Zahir’s mother help cover up Noor’s murder? Investigators look through call logs

    Investigators in Noor Mukadam’ s murder case are checking the calls logs of Zahir’s mother — Asmat Jaffer — who called the head of Trillium Information Security Systems, a private Rawalpindi-based security firm, several times on the day of Noor’s gruesome murder on July 20, reports Zahid Gishkori for The News.

    Asmat Jaffer, who was in Karachi at the time of the murder, was also in contact with her son at 7:29pm. Noor’s murder reportedly took place between 6:30 and 7:30pm.

    Shortly after this call, Zahir contacted Trillium Security’s head at 7:30pm for five minutes after which Asmat spoke to the head of the firm at least thrice. Not only this, several people that she was in contact have confirmed that she was actively moving between Karachi’s DHA, Clifton and Shaheed-e-Millat Road area and reached out to multiple people at this time. According to The News, Zahir’s mother communicated over 200 times with numerous people: her servant, neighbours in F-7/4, a few influential individuals, a security company, capital police, a welfare trust, four private firms, her immediate family members and periodically with her son, the suspected killer, officials and people involved in the case said.

    These strange calls started peaking in the afternoon of July 20. She made frequent calls to Zahir a dozen times. However, the nature of these calls hasn’t been disclosed yet.

    “I have nothing to do with what happened [at Jaffer House]. These are absolutely false findings. Whatever the folks are saying is incorrect, as I have no connection with this [Noor Mukadam] murder,” Trillium Information Security Systems’ owner told Gishkori.

    The court denied bail to Zahir’s parents. Asmat Jaffer arrived at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi, at 6:30am on July 21, throughout on call. Upon her arrival, she did not go to her family home. She went straight to sector F-8 for a few hours, before going to a friend’s house in sector F-6.

  • ‘The gun is already placed on their head’: Hamid Mir on being banned by Geo

    ‘The gun is already placed on their head’: Hamid Mir on being banned by Geo

    In an interview with Stephen Sackur on BBC HARDtalk, senior journalist Hamid Mir talked about why he was banned on Geo News, press freedom, censorship under Prime Minister Imran Khan, attacks on journalists, and how he is worried for his own safety in Pakistan.

    Disappointment on being off-air

    Stephen Sackur questioned Hamid Mir as to how disappointed he was with his employers [Geo News] and the Jang group who did not stand by him. Sackur also questioned how Mir felt that he had lost his voice and platform as a journalist because he was suspended from his channel.

    Mir said he was certainly disappointed but did understand the circumstances under which the decision was taken place.

    “Mir Shakil ur Rehman was arrested last year and he remained in the detention of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for more than seven months for a three-decade-old case, which was not a very big case. And I think that he was arrested, he was detained, just because of the freedom he was trying to give us. He got bail from the Supreme Court but his name was placed on the Exit Control List. He cannot leave Pakistan. He is already being held at gunpoint. So, my employers, the gun is already at their head. So when they were asked to ban Hamid Mir, they banned me. So I can understand their problem,” replied Mir.

    Imran Khan is a helpless Prime Minister

    The BBC host asked Mir that in the past he had a friendly relationship with PM Imran Khan so did he ever think that PM Imran personally wanted to see him taken off-air.

    Hamid replied, “It’s a very difficult question for me to respond [to], but I will try to very honestly. Imran Khan stood by me in 2007 when I was banned by General Pervez Musharraf, and yes at that time he was the biggest supporter of media freedom in Pakistan. Yes, I provided him a lot of space on my TV shows because he was in the Opposition, and you can say that I was friendly with him when he was in the Opposition. But when he became PM, I started raising questions. I even met him personally, and I asked him that your government should provide more space to the media because you are the biggest beneficiary of media freedom.”

    “One of my interviews with the former president, Asif Ali Zardari, was banned on my show, on my TV channel and some other Opposition leaders were also banned on different TV channels. So we started criticising Imran Khan and so I think he was not happy with my criticism.

    “The second part of your question is very important. I think that Imran Khan is not directly responsible for imposing a ban on me. And I don’t think he wants me to be off-air. But like past prime ministers, he is not a very powerful prime minister and I think he is helpless and he can’t help me,” said Mir.

    Concerned about my personal security

    Sackur questioned Mir if he feared the toxic environment in Pakistan and how concerned was he about his personal safety in the country after two assassination attempts on him. Mir answered, “Yes, I am very concerned about my personal security for a long time. I asked my family to leave Pakistan and my family left, my daughter and wife have already left. I was also approached by some people who suggested I leave Pakistan. But I decided not to leave.”

    Ready to face imprisonment

    The HARDtalk host asked Hamid Mir if he was ready to face imprisonment for the accusations against him, to which Mir responded, ” Yes, and I am ready to face life imprisonment because if they will be able to convict me at least the whole world will come to know what is going on in Pakistan. The whole world is already aware of what is going on in Pakistan because I am a living example of censorship in Pakistan. Everybody knows what happened to Hamid Mir and why he is banned and everybody knows the names of the people which I have not mentioned, everybody knows who was responsible for imposing a ban on me.”

    “The common Pakistanis are very wise, they are very clever. They know each and everything about what’s going on. But you see, there is no rule of law in Pakistan. And we only want justice, we want that the rule of law should be established in Pakistan. And if a journalist is asking questions, don’t try to silence his voice,” added Mir.

    State of media freedom in Pakistan

    Stephen Sackur questioned Mir whether there was a climate of fear in Pakistan when it comes to journalists or journalism.

    “Yes, definitely, there is a climate of fear in Pakistan. A lot of young journalists, they are very disappointed and look at the state of media freedom in Pakistan. When Mr Imran Khan became prime minister in 2018 Pakistan was ranked at 139 on the World Press Freedom Index. Today, in 2021, when I am talking to you, it is 145. So Pakistan lost six points in the last three years,” said Mir.

    He further added, “According to the International Federation of Journalists, Pakistan is one of the five most dangerous countries for journalists in the whole world. This is not good for Pakistan, for its reputation and credibility in the international community. And yes, there is a climate of fear in Pakistan because Pakistani journalists think journalism is becoming very difficult in this country and this government of Imran Khan [is] now planning some more anti-media laws which is not acceptable to us.”

    Rule of law only solution in Pakistan

    Commenting on the grave danger to democracy in Pakistan, Hamid Mir said, “I think that the rule of law is the solution to all of our problems. That’s why we want a general democracy in Pakistan because the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a democrat and I am a follower of his.”

    “And all those people who are trying to snatch media freedom from us are enemies of Pakistan and are enemies of Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” said Mir.

  • Eight PPP leaders summoned to FIA

    Eight PPP leaders summoned to FIA

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued notices to eight members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), including provincial ministers. FIA has summoned them in person, reported Hum News.

    FIA notices have been issued to Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Nafisa Shah, Qadir Patel, Shahida Rahmani, Naz Baloch, Shela Raza, and Qadir Khan Mandokhel.

    PPP leader Nafisa Shah said that the PPP members have been summoned after receiving a message from a nominee in a case regarding anti-Chief Justice speech.

    “The members have been notified by the FIA by issuing notices under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA),” stated Nafisa Shah.

    “State machinery is being used to silence PPP spokespersons and leaders. Receiving a message from a person on WhatsApp does not constitute a crime nor does the PECA law apply,” added Nafisa Shah.

    The PPP leader said, “Political leaders receive thousands of messages. If receiving messages is criminalised, the whole world will be in jail.”

    She said that the PPP could not be silenced by such tactics and that the FIA ​​is misusing its powers.

    “Like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), FIA is being used by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for political engineering,” said Nafisa Shah. 

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat ‘arrested’ by FIA
    
			
    Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat ‘arrested’ by FIA
    
			
    

    Senior journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat went missing on Saturday morning from Lahore. 
    




    Hamid took to Twitter and confirmed the news. “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning.” 
    




    


    




    “We came to know about his location after 5 hours. FIA snatched his [Amir Mir’s] phone and laptop,” read the tweet. Amir Mir is Hamid Mir’s brother.
    




    Hamid Mir also wrote about the disappearance of Imran Shafqat, stating that FIA arrested him as well.
    




    Meanwhile, Imran Shafqat was arrested from his house by use of force. As per reports, around10 people, both men, and women barged into his residence, raided his place, and took him away. 
    




    Talking to BBC, Imran Shafqat’s sister Anum Noor said, “The bell rang at our house in Mughalpura area of Lahore at 12:30pm today. My brother Imran Shafqat opened the door after which 10 people entered our house.” 
    




    Anum Noor said eight of the 10 people were without uniforms and two were wearing “white uniforms”.
    




    “They said we came from the FIA. Didn’t say more than that. Neither did they show an arrest warrant,” added Noor.
    




    “They dragged my brother out of the house,” said Noor Anum.
    




    Journalist Shahid Aslam confirmed that both Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat are in the custody of FIA. 
    




    


    




    Director FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore, DIG Babar Bakht is supervising the investigation, as per Shahid Aslam.
    




    


    




    Reportedly Imran Shafqat is accused of doing a Vlog against the “First Lady” whereas the reasons to arrest Amir Mir are still unknown. 
    




    


    




    Some say Amir Mir has been arrested for a news story that ran on his YouTube channel, Googly News.
    




    


    




    Twitter reacted to the alleged abduction of both Imran Shafqat and Amir Mir.
    




    Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted, “We demand safe return and an immediate inquiry into the circumstances of his disappearance.”
    




    


    




     Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat and demanded their release.
    




    


    




    Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “I have spent about 18 summers of my life in England. I have seen the British media, they are very open and free. But the Pakistan media, in my opinion, is freer than the British media: PM Imran Khan.”
    




    


    




    Journalist Asma Shirazi questions, “When will the disappearance of journalists stop?”
    




    


    




    Journalist Zebunnia Burki tweeted, ” I’d say unbelievable, but it’s really not.”
    




    


    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt
    
			
    Corona Relief Funds: Auditors find fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by KP govt
    
			
    

    Investigative reporter Zahid Gishkori has revealed that the country’s top auditors have pointed out fictitious purchases, huge irregularities, wasteful expenditures, and losses to public funds of more than Rs3 billion by the health department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to a report published in The News, a special audit team of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) found “fictitious purchases of items worth Rs881 million by the KP government”.
    




    


    




    “The auditors scrutinised the allocation of Rs8.8 billion made for the fiscal year 2019-20, including Rs7.8 billion released by the finance department KP government. Furthermore, auditors also audited an amount of Rs1.7 billion allocated by the finance department to the health department, home & TA department, and the Pandemic Response Effectiveness in Pakistan (PREP), KP, for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the report.
    




    “The auditors pointed to doubtful purchases of equipment worth Rs14.358 million, which included stockpiling and logistics, noticing irregularities in an amount of Rs1 billion, which was allocated for provision of death compensation under the relief package for frontline workers dealing with Covid-19.”
    




    The report also features irregularities in funds of Rs140 million, which were released to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department for screening of prisoners.
    




    “The audit team also pointed out that the management of PDMA incurred an expenditure of Rs62 million on the purchase of PPEs without any market survey. The audit team pointed to losses of Rs117 million public funds in the purchase of some specification cardiac monitors recommending a high-level inquiry for fixing responsibility and making good the loss sustained by the government,” stated the report.
    




    “The AGP also questioned non-supply of ICU ventilators despite payment of Rs43.425 million and non-supply of medical equipment worth Rs150 million. Auditors also recommended a doubtful award of contract and payment of Rs11 million to M/s Dawazai & Company, pointing out a supply of 400,000 substandard masks by M/s Protech Solutions to the PDMA accordingly.”
    




    Meanwhile, Finance & Health Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Taimur Khan Jhagra tweeted, “[The report is] confusing, misleading & irresponsible; this article is based on an on-going audit process in the province.”
    




    


    




    However, as per The News, the complete audit report has been sent to President Arif Alvi. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group
    
			
    Imran’s close friend Awn Chaudhry resigns after refusing to leave Tareen group
    
			
    

    Awn Chaudhry has resigned as Special Coordinator to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab on Political Affairs. In his resignation, Awn wrote that he was summoned to the CM House where he was asked to disassociate from Tareen group or resign. “My conscience does not allow me to abandon my association with the most loyal member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who served selflessly,” says Awn. 
    




    As per Geo News, Awn Chaudhry was accused of lobbying for the Tareen group and recruiting new members of the Assembly into the Tareen group. 
    




    




    Earlier this week, Punjab MPA Nazir Chohan, a Tareen loyalist, quit Tareen’s PTI faction, saying, “Jahangir Tareen used me.”
    




    




    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Get vaccinated, save your job: CNN fires unvaccinated employees
    
			
    

    American news channel CNN fired three employees for entering its New York headquarters without getting a Corona vaccination. 
    




    CNN Cheif Jeff Zucker sent a memo to its employees saying that vaccination was necessary and no negligence would be tolerated.
    




    “All three have been terminated. Let me be clear — we have a zero-tolerance policy on this,” added the memo. “You need to be vaccinated to come to the office. And you need to be vaccinated to work in the field, with other employees, regardless of whether you enter an office or not. Period.”
    




    The United States (US) is one of the world’s most affected countries by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 30 million people infected and more than 600,000 dead.
    




    Vaccination is mandatory to control the virus worldwide.