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Category: Politics

  • British-Pakistani Mayra Zulfiqar’s murderer gets arrested

    British-Pakistani Mayra Zulfiqar’s murderer gets arrested

    Zahir Jadoon, a resident of Lahore, had confessed to murdering a British-Pakistani woman Mayra Zulfiqar on May 3.

    Police in Lahore has formally arrested Zahir Jadoon in relation to the murder of Mayra, a law graduate from London.

    Zahir Jadoon and Saad Butt were two of the four accused named in the murder in the first information report (FIR) filed by Mohammad Nazeer, a relative of Zulfiqar.

    Muhammad Zulfiqar, Mayra’s father, had appealed to the prime ministers of both Pakistan and Britain to help him get justice for his daughter.

    24-year-old Mayra Zulfiqar was found dead in Lahore. She had been threatened by two men who both wanted to marry her.

  • Bilawal slams PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, calls him ‘office-bearer on paper’

    Bilawal slams PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, calls him ‘office-bearer on paper’

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday criticised the government over the Ghotki train accident and said that he was shocked at the ‘callous’ attitude of the government.

    Differences between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also became visible in the National Assembly (NA) session when PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal criticised the chair for giving the floor to the PPP chairman before him. Ahsan Iqbal said that being from the largest Opposition party, it was his right to get the floor first. When Bilawal took the floor again, he hit out at Iqbal and the PML-N and termed him an “office-bearer only on papers”.

    Responding to Bilawal’s remarks, Ahsan Iqbal tweeted, “PTI attacks him [Bilawal] for a will written on a piece of paper. I don’t know why he felt the need to attack me with this piece of paper issue.”

    Speaking on the floor, Bilawal said a tragic incident has occurred in Ghotki and lamented that a poor person’s life is not safe during travel via the railways.

    “They (government) do political point-scoring even when an incident like these happen,” he said, adding, “I want to convey a message to the affectees of the crash: We stand with you and demand answers from the authorities.”

    Later in the day, Bilawal tweeted that his request to suspend all other business to discuss Ghotki train accident was denied by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.

    “PM, railway minister not in NA to answer why in three years of this government we’ve had more train accidents than any other govt in history of Pakistan. Shocked at callous attitude of govt,” he added.

  • Ghotki train accident: Azam Swati accepts responsibility

    Ghotki train accident: Azam Swati accepts responsibility

    Minister of Railways Azam Khan Swati accepted responsibility for the Ghotki train accident on Monday.

    “Being a top official (minister for railways), I take responsibility for this train accident. The other senior officials working under me also take responsibility,” Swati said when asked whether he would tender resignation from his ministry since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), when in Opposition during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, had sought the resignation of former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique over train accidents, reported Dawn.

    Swati also held all those responsible who, in his words, were involved in corruption and did nothing for the improvement and betterment of railways during the last 25 to 30 years.

    “This track is stuck like a bone in our throat. We can neither eat it nor throw it out. I admit that the safety of passengers at this track is compromised,” the minister admitted.

    Meanwhile, Swati arrived at the crash site to oversee the rescue operations. Swati said if his resignation meant the deceased can come back to life, he was ready to do so. He assured that those found responsible in the Ghotki train crash will be punished. 

    Talking to Dawn, Swati defended the induction of new trains in the existing fleet, saying the move was the need of the hour to enhance railways’ revenue.

    “Whether we launch new trains or not, we see ourselves at the losing end. There is also confusion whether to rehabilitate or replace this track with a new one,” he argued.

    The Ghotki train accident took place after a track’s welding joint broke, causing the Millat Express train to crash onto a down track, says an initial investigation report into the crash, as reported by Geo News.

    65 people were killed and over 100 injured during the wee hours of Monday when Sir Syed Express and the Millat Express collided in Pakistan’s Dharki town near the Mirpur Mathello Railway Station.

  • PM Imran expresses grief over killing of Muslim family in Canada in a suspected Islamophobic attack

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his grief over the killing of four members of a Muslim Pakistani-origin Canadian family in London, Ontario.

    “Saddened to learn of the killing of a Muslim Pakistani-origin Canadian family in London, Ontario,” wrote PM Imran.

    “This condemnable act of terrorism reveals the growing Islamophobia in Western countries. Islamophonia needs to be countered holistically by the international community,” he added.

    Police in London, Ontario, citing witnesses, said that 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman jumped the curb in his vehicle on Sunday, struck five members of the same family ranging in age from 9 to 74, and then drove off at high speed, Reuters has reported.

    Police have not released the victims’ names, but the London Free Press said that among the dead were Syed Afzaal, 46, his wife, Madiha Salman, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter, Yumnah Afzaal. Syed Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother, whose name has not been confirmed, also died. Their 9-year-old son, Faez Afzaal, is in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

    As per media reports, the family immigrated from Pakistan about 14 years ago.

    “We believe this was an intentional act and that the victims of this horrific incident were targeted,” Police Chief Steve Williams said. “We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith.”

    “I’m horrified by the news from London, Ontario. To the loved ones of those who were terrorised by yesterday’s act of hatred, we are here for you. We are also here for the child who remains in hospital – our hearts go out to you, and you will be in our thoughts as you recover,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

    “To the Muslim community in London and to Muslims across the country, know that we stand with you. Islamophobia has no place in any of our communities. This hate is insidious and despicable – and it must stop.”

  • ‘By the grace of Almighty Allah, this is the first train accident of 2021’: Firdous

    ‘By the grace of Almighty Allah, this is the first train accident of 2021’: Firdous

    Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Punjab, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan made a shocking statement on the Ghotki Incident. She said: “By the grace of Almighty Allah, ever since the government came into power, this is the first train accident that happened in this year 2021″.

    https://twitter.com/taimoorze/status/1401902200520118278?s=21

    Firdous faced backlash from the public calling her statement ‘unbelievable’.

    A woman reacted to the comments of Firdous, and wrote on Twitter, “What have we done to deserve this ?”

    Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan tweeted a clarification regarding her controversial statement. “This is the first major train accident in the last 15 months. One of my statements given in this regard is being taken out of context.”

    Two express trains collided on Monday in Sindh’s Ghotki and killed over 50 passengers, while more than 100 others have been injured, said police and rescue officials.

    In the midst of the tragic incident of Ghotki, Firdous’ statement was thought to be inept and lacked empathy.

  • What does PM Khan regret?

    What does PM Khan regret?

    Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan regrets that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was able to escape from the grip of the law by leaving Pakistan for London.

    He said that Nawaz deceived the government and went abroad using “fake medical reports” and the prime minister has great sorrow over this.

    The government stopped Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif from going abroad and later placed his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Sheikh Rasheed said a person whose name was included in the ECL could challenge the decision in 15 days but Shehbaz Sharif did not challenge the Interior Ministry’s decision.

    Rasheed went on to say that PM Imran Khan was lucky to have such an “incompetent” and “sluggish” Opposition.

    He further added that the entire Jahangir Tareen group will support the upcoming budget.

  • Timeline of major train accidents in Pakistan during PTI tenure

    Timeline of major train accidents in Pakistan during PTI tenure

    Two express trains collided in Sindh’s Ghotki today. At least 50 passengers have lost their lives, and 100 others are injured. The Millat Express derailed and the Sir Syed Express train hit it soon afterwards, railways officials confirmed, saying that the collision took place between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations. In 2019,BBC published a report stating, “historical data from Pakistan Railways shows there were 757 train accidents between 2012 and 2017. That’s an average of about 125 incidents a year.”

    Sheikh Rashid served as the Railway Minister from August 20, 2018, to December 14, 2020. A total of seven major train incidents happened during his tenure. At present, Azam Khan Swati is the Railway Minister. The present train accident in Ghotki has happened during Swati’s tenure.

     Timeline of major railways accidents during the tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI):

    June 7,2021: Ghotki

     At least 32 people were killed and 64 injured after two express trains collided in Sindh’s Ghotki.

    Feb 28, 2020: Rohri

    At least 19 people were killed when a train collided with a passenger bus near Sindh’s Rohri.

    October 31, 2019: Rahim Yar Khan

    More than 70 people died in a fiery explosion on a moving train, which officials later blamed on a short-circuit fire. The incident occurred near Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab.

    July 11, 2019: Sadiqabad

     A Quetta-bound train collided with a cargo train near Sadiqabad in Punjab, killing 24 and injuring over a 100. The accident was later found to the result of a delay in the switching of train tracks.

    June 20, 2019: Makli Shah

     Three people were killed when a passenger train collided with a stationary cargo train at Makli Shah, near Hyderabad.

    December 18, 2018: Narowal

    12 children were injured when a passenger train crashed into a school van near Narowal, Punjab. Eyewitnesses said the accident happened due to dense fog and because the gate at the crossing was left open.

    September 27, 2018: Sehwan

    A Peshawar-bound train had derailed in Sehwan, Sindh, due to which 11 bogies overturned.

    September 16, 2018: Attock

    Nine bogies of the Peshawar-bound Khushal Khan Khattak Express from Karachi derailed near Attock. 20 passengers were injured.

    June 9, 2018: Sukkur

    Twenty-three bogies of a Karachi-bound freight train derailed in Sukkur.

    People are recalling the words of Prime Minister Imran Khan when he said, “Anywhere in the world when a train accident occurs, the railway minister resigns. Until the minister doesn’t resign, the inquiry doesn’t process properly.”

    https://twitter.com/MurtazaViews/status/1401828986632740865

  • PM Imran ‘shocked’ over Ghotki train accident, orders thorough investigation

    PM Imran ‘shocked’ over Ghotki train accident, orders thorough investigation

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said he was ‘shocked’ over the Ghotki train accident that resulted in the loss of lives of many passengers.

    As per reports, at least 50 passengers have lost their lives and 100 people were injured Monday morning when two passenger trains collided at Ghotki between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations.

    PM Khan has directed Railways Minister Azam Swati to arrive at the site and provide the affectees with medical assistance and support for families of the dead.

    “Shocked by the horrific train accident at Ghotki early this morning leaving 30 passengers dead. Have asked Railway Minister to reach the site and ensure medical assistance to the injured and support for families of the dead. Ordering a comprehensive investigation into railway safety fault lines,” PM Imran wrote in a Tweet.

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also took to Twitter stating that the “the entire railway system in terms of safety and maintenance needs an overhaul”.

    Also Read: PM Imran drives in without protocol, interacts with street vendors in Islamabad

    Army officers and Rangers workers have arrived at the site in Ghotki to help people with the relief and rescue operations, said the ISPR. Military doctors and paramedics have also reached the crash site. 

    This is a developing story.

  • Nawaz Sharif watches grandson play polo for Cambridge University

    Nawaz Sharif watches grandson play polo for Cambridge University

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended a polo match at the Guards Polo Club to watch his grandson and Maryam Nawaz’s son Junaid Safdar play the prestigious annual Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Match.

    The match was won by Oxford in the end. Junaid’s horse was awarded the ‘Best Playing Pony’ Award as he scored all three goals for his side.

    The Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity match was also played by Prince Charles during his time at Cambridge.

    It’s believed that Junaid Safdar is only the second Pakistani to have played this match for the Cambridge team after Supreme Court Judge Justice Yahya Afridi, who studied in Cambridge and played a match for the same team during his student years.

    Nawaz Sharif can be seen in pictures sitting with his grandson Zayed Hussain, son of Hussain Nawaz Sharif, in the polo ground.

    Junaid has graduated from Durham University with first-class honours in politics and obtained another master’s degree from University College London in 2017.

  • Standing committee approves chemical castration of sexual abusers

    National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved chemical castration, which falls in the Criminal Law bill.

    As per the Criminal Law Bill 2020, if the accused commits the crime again after serving a life sentence, he will be sentenced to chemical castration.

    Under this law, special court, anti-rape crises cell, and special committee would be set up to hear rape cases and registered complaints.

    Geo news reported that under the Criminal Amendment Bill 2021, a rapist who commits the crime again will be chemically castrated.

    In November 2020, the federal cabinet had approved a law that proposed chemical castration as a punishment for convicted rapists.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan had previously said the government will not tolerate any lax attitude in the implementation of anti-rape laws and added that the safety of all citizens was the utmost priority of the government.

    The premier said the legislation will be clear and transparent with strict enforcement. He said the rape survivors will be able to register complaints without fear, adding that the government will protect their identity.

    Regarding chemical castration, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Nafisa Shah said it is inhuman under the law. The law for awarding death punishment and life imprisonment to rapists already exist, she added.