Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, his wife, and another member of his team allegedly refused to undergo Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for coronavirus when landing at Lahore airport, violating the instruction of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    In a letter written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headquarters in Karachi, Lahore airport chief operating officer and manager Akhtar Mirza said the Bahria Town CEO refused to give samples for the Covid-19 test. The team of airport health staff went to his residence to follow up with a test but Riaz refused to take the test.

    Letter written to the CAA, regarding Malik Riaz refusing to take the Covid test

    Riaz, along with four other people, landed at Lahore Airport from Dubai. After the passengers passed through the immigration process, the CAA duty staff requested Riaz and his fellows to undergo the RAT, which is a rapid diagnostic test that directly detects the presence or absence of the antigen and gives results within few minutes.

    “But they did not respond and rapidly moved towards international arrivals exit gate,” Mirza stated in the letter.

    Riaz, Bina Riaz and Shahid Mahmood Qureshi, “left the airport without [the test] which is an open violation of NCOC instructions and SOPs”, the letter added.

    The CAA management then contacted the government health team and Riaz’s personal staff officer to obtain the RAT samples from the property tycoon’s residence. A two-member team of airport health staff subsequently left for Riaz’s house shortly “but unfortunately once again [he] flatly refused to give samples for the requisite test.”

    The letter was submitted to the airport services director at CAA Karachi headquarters for his “information and further necessary action”.

    After detection of the coronavirus in some passengers arriving in Pakistan and despite them having negative PCR test results, the CAA tightened the rules regarding testing.

  • PM Khan’s aide Zulfi Bukhari resigns over allegations of corruption

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfi Bukhari has stepped down from his position, owing to allegations in the ongoing Ring Road inquiry. Zulfi made the announcement on his Twitter account.

    “My Prime Minister has always said that if a person has been named rightly or wrongly in any inquiry he should cease to hold any public office till his name has been cleared of charges ,” wrote Zulfi Bukhari.

    “Owing to the allegations in ongoing Ring Road inquiry I want to set this example, by resigning from office until my name is cleared up of any allegations and media’s obnoxious lies,” he added.

    He continued by saying, “I reiterate that I have nothing to do with Ring Road or any ongoing Real Estate project. This time the inquiry should be done by capable personnel. I endorse a judicial inquiry.’

    “I’m here to stay in Pakistan and stand united with the Prime Minister and his vision.”

    “I sacrificed my life overseas to come and serve my country, I am ready to face any inquiry,” he concluded.

    His resignation has come after an order by the National Accountability Bureau, to look into alleged corruption and illegal land requisition in the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

  • Faisal Edhi files visa application for Palestine

    Faisal Edhi files visa application for Palestine

    Pakistani humanitarian Faisal Edhi has announced that he has submitted a visa request with the Palestinian embassy in Pakistan to grant him permission to fly to Palestine and help the Palestinians who have been subjected to Israeli atrocities for a long time now.

    “We want to take part in the relief work in Palestine via the Edhi Foundation. Five people, including my son Saad Edhi [and myself], will be going to Palestine,” says Faisal.

    Son of renowned philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and chairman of the Edhi Foundation, Faisal said that his organisation will buy food and medicine from Egypt, adding that the foundation has set aside a budget of “Rs25-30 million” for the purpose. 

    “We do not want any support from the government as we will do everything with the help of people,” said Edhi.

    Israeli airstrikes hammered the Gaza Strip after a week of violence that has killed nearly 200 Palestinians, despite international calls for de-escalation.

  • ‘Fighting must stop immediately’: UN Secretary-General

    ‘Fighting must stop immediately’: UN Secretary-General

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday called on Israel and Palestine to “immediately end fighting” and return to negotiations.

    “The United Nations is actively engaging all sides towards an immediate ceasefire,” António Guterres added.

    All members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), who participated in an emergency meeting on the situation in Palestine on Sunday, urged Israel not to make demographic and territorial changes in the occupied territory and immediately cease its hostilities.

    Pakistan on Sunday urged the US to play its role in addressing the worsening Palestine crisis and restore peace in the region.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday. They discussed bilateral relations and important regional developments, particularly the deteriorating situation in Palestine.

    The Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in their emergency meeting on Sunday condemned what they described as “barbaric” Israeli attacks on Palestinians and urged the UN Security Council to act swiftly to bring an end to the atrocities.

    The meeting was convened by Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi represented Pakistan at the virtual session. He stressed upon the member states that the OIC must not fail the people of Palestine at this critical juncture.

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed the lives of 42 more people, taking the death toll to 188. According to Gaza health officials, 16 women and 10 children were killed in the recent air strikes which also targeted the home of a Hamas leader.

  • Devastating stories from Gaza as Israeli air strikes claim 188 lives

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed the lives of 42 more people, taking the death toll to 188. According to Gaza health officials, 16 women and 10 children were killed in the recent air strikes which also targeted the home of a Hamas leader.

    Stories being shared from the region are devastating. A ten-year-old girl, heartbroken and tired from the atrocities she is having to face, questions the world,” I am only ten. How can one expect me to fix the ongoing situation?”

    https://twitter.com/TanveerAbbasATI/status/1394118078477357057

    “When I see all this, I cry everyday. I ask my myself, Why do we deserve this ?” cried the girl.

    Palestinians are scared as Gaza continues to bleed and Israeli barbarism doesn’t seem to end.

    A little girl cries to her mother that she doesn’t want to die. ” I’m scared that my home will be demolished,” cries the girl to her mother.

    https://twitter.com/chul_da_watta/status/1394115292247252992

    A deaf child who survived the air-strike explains what he experienced.

    Israeli warplanes unleashed a new series of heavy airstrikes at several locations in Gaza early on Monday, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that the bombings would rage on.

    In a televised address on Sunday, Netanyahu said the Israeli air raids were continuing at “full-force” and would “take time”, adding that his country “wants to levy a heavy price” from Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

    While Palestinians mourn the loss of their loved ones, others called out Israel, standing with Palestine.

    US Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “If the Biden admin can’t stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?”

    She further tweeted,” Apartheid states aren’t democracies.”

    People from across the world marched in solidarity with Palestinians.

    “There is no space in any of the hospital rooms,” Journalist Youmna Al Sayed reported, saying that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing.

  • Shehbaz files contempt petition in LHC against FIA officials

    Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif submitted a contempt petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday, against six officials who allegedly barred him from flying abroad despite the court’s order granting him permission.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s name has been added to the Exit Control List (ECL).

     Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, in a tweet said that with the approval of the cabinet and completion of all legal formalities, Shehbaz’s name was added to the no-fly list.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that Shehbaz had not submitted any medical documents for travelling abroad or specify the treatment for his illness.

    “This is the first time that a verdict was given the same day a petition was filed. Shehbaz was trying to flee the country,” he remarked.

    Sheikh further added we want fair treatment for all prisoners and this is not fair. “What are the chances that Shehbaz Sharif will return when his brother Nawaz Sharif has yet to come back?” said Sheikh.

    He added that the PML-N leader may influence the approvers.

    Rasheed said Shehbaz can file an appeal against the decision in the Interior Ministry within 15 days.

    Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court granted Shehbaz permission to travel abroad once for medical treatment.

    After obtaining bail, Shehbaz was about to fly to London when an FIA team at the airport stopped him from travelling on the grounds that his name had been on the list of persons barred from leaving the country.

  • Palestinian videos show barbaric Israeli destruction in Gaza

    Palestinian videos show barbaric Israeli destruction in Gaza

    Israeli bombardment of Gaza, a Palestinian terrority is the worst the world has seen in years. As the world celebrated Eid, Gaza continued to bleed and Israeli barbarism didn’t end. Palestinians are voicing their fear and concern on social media for the world to know what it looks like to be a Palestinian right now.

    Israeli fighter jets continue to pound central Gaza with bombs, as the death toll of the Palestinians killed in the fighting reached 126 people. 31 among them are children.

    Towers and homes were levelled, forcing Gaza families to seek shelter in schools and mosques, ahead of another possible bombardment.

    A man lost his whole family in one night. Despite the loss his words were filled with pain. Sobbingly he said , ” Alhumdulliah, they are in a better place.”

    https://twitter.com/socraticjunki/status/1393439463322398720

    “You should not have died before me,” a father cried as he stood by the destroyed building where he had lost his family.

    https://twitter.com/0arsln/status/1393402385947664384

    950 people have also been injured in Gaza. As Israelis post about small rocket fire bombarding areas with secure Israeli shelters, Palestinians post videos of immense destruction at the hands of Israeli missiles.

    https://twitter.com/nufasihah/status/1393453430488793093

    Israel, which is also trying to contain an outbreak of internal Jewish-Arab violence, is facing a conflict in the Palestinian territories unlike any in its recent history.

  • Peace with Pindi? Nawaz Sharif’s Spokesperson tells all

    Peace with Pindi? Nawaz Sharif’s Spokesperson tells all

    Mohammad Zubair, Spokesperson to Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, claimed in a TV talk show that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has made peace with Rawalpindi. Zubair made this statement in ARY News programme ‘The Reporters’.

    Alluding to a rapprochement between the establishment and PML-N, anchorperson Sabir Shakir directly asked Mohammad Zubair about ‘sulaah‘ (rapprochement) with Rawalpindi. The PML-N leader confirmed to Shakir that there has indeed been a reconciliation.


    “All it will take is to pull the ladder away from PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] and the government will be in trouble,” added Zubair. He said that this is what the PTI fears.

    Zubair further added that the relations of PML-N with the army have always been good.

    PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has been targeting the establishment quite vocally. At a rally in Gujranwala held by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) last year, Sharif’s comments against army chief shocked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    Senior PML-N politician Javed Hashmi recently criticised the establishment in a video that went viral on social media. The PML-N has officially distanced itself from Hashmi’s comments by tweeting: “Javed Hashmi’s statement about the national institution is his personal opinion.”

  • Pakistan to observe Palestine Day on May 14

    Pakistan to observe Palestine Day on May 14

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony Maulana Tahir Ashrafi on Tuesday said that Pakistan would observe Palestine Day on May 14.

    Ashrafi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, said that the prime minister has tasked Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi to liaison with other countries regarding the situation in Jerusalem.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he spoke to his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, about the dire situation in Palestine.

    “Fully support Turkey’s call to convene meeting of OIC and UN. Storming 1st Qibla of Islam Masjid Al Aqsa, killing children and forcing evictions — absolutely unacceptable,” Qureshi tweeted.

    Pakistan has strongly condemned the attack by the Israeli forces on hapless Palestinians.

  • Vaccination registration for ages 30 and above to start from Sunday

    Vaccination registration for ages 30 and above to start from Sunday

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday allowed citizens aged 30 and above to sign up for Covid-19 vaccination from Sunday (May 16).

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar tweeted, “As vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all Federating units, we continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated.”

    Asad Umar announced that from Sunday, registration will be open to all 30 years and older citizens for Covid-19 vaccine.

    On May 3, Pakistan opened registration for the coronavirus vaccination for people aged between 40 to 49 years across the country.

    Special Assistant to CM Punjab for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan tweeted that the corona vaccine will be given to the journalist community on a priority basis.

    “The process of vaccinating Punjab journalists will begin after the Eid holidays,” Firdous tweeted.

    A digital portal has been launched by the federal government for the registration through which a code is assigned to the person and then they can go to a designated vaccination centre and get a jab.