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Tag: UK

  • PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    PTI’s Shahzad Akbar leaves for Dubai after name removed from ‘no-fly list’

    Special Assistant to former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar left for Dubai on Sunday after his name was removed from the FIA’s ‘stop-list’ on the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    According to Express Tribune, Akhbar departed via Islamabad International Airport for Dubai on an international airline at 3:30 am, from where he is expected to depart for the United Kingdom (UK).

    Last week, the FIA had put names of four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members including former aides — Shahzad Akbar and Shahbaz Gill on “no-fly list.”

    However, on April 12 the Islamabad High Court suspended the notification. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court has already declared the blacklist illegal.

    He said, “We have already issued a verdict that no one’s name can be placed on this list.”

    IHC also suspended the ban on three other persons— former principal secretary Azam Khan, Khan’s ex-focal person on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid and Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Chairman Mohammad Nafees Gohar.

  • 17 Pakistani universities listed among world’s best institutions

    17 Pakistani universities listed among world’s best institutions

    As many as 17 Pakistani universities have been listed among the best global universities for 2022.

    According to the ranking published by US News, Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad has been ranked 461 in the World Ranking for 2022. Aga Khan University, Karachi and COMSATS University Islamabad are following the QAU in the ranking respectively.

    Apart from these institutions, more universities have made to the list, such as the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) which is placed at 922, the University of Peshawar, at 933, University of Agriculture Faisalabad at 954, Government College (GC) University Faisalabad at 1,149, University of Punjab at1,242, Bahauddin Zakariya University at 1,368 and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore have been placed at 1,458th position.

    Following the news, the Vice-Chancellor (VS) of QAU Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah congratulated the faculty, students, staff, and alumni on the official website of the university.

  • 57 dead bodies found in mass grave in Ukraine town

    57 dead bodies were found buried in a mass grave in a town in Ukraine called Bucha. It is situated in the west of the city of Kyiv. The mass grave was found at the back of the church in the town center. Ukrainian troops recaptured the area from Russian forces on Sunday, reports Khaleej Times.

    According to the head of rescue services, Serhii Kaplychnyi, “Here in this long grave, 57 people are buried.” Kaplychnyi is also responsible for organising the recovery of the bodies.

    Some dead bodies were either partially covered by the earth or unburied completely. Some bodies were found in black zip-up bags while some were in civilian clothing.

    Russian forces were accused of a ‘deliberate massacre’ in the town by Ukraine authorities.

    A French media reporter claimed that he saw almost 20 dead bodies in civilian clothing which were scattered across the streets in town. One make dead body identified had his hands behind his back tied with a white piece of cloth.

    Germany also called for new European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia for killing innocent civilians in Bucha and called it a ‘war crime.’ The United Kingdom also called for an investigation of these brutal war crimes committed by Russia.

  • Crypto companies at risk of closure in the United Kingdom

    A number of cryptocurrency businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) may be forced to shut down if they fail to register with the financial watchdog before a major deadline next week.

    Firms providing crypto services in the UK must register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) by 31 March, 2022. The FCA is in charge of supervising how digital asset firms tackle money laundering.

    In 2021, the authority stretched the deadline for businesses on a temporary register to continue trading while seeking full license. Once the deadline passes, the temporary register will be closed.

    Many crypto businesses have withdrew their applications, according to the FCA, since they did not match the required anti-money laundering criteria.

    With only days until the deadline, the status of companies on the temporary register including Revolut, a $33 billion fintech business, and Copper, a crypto start-up is in trouble which counts on UK Finance Minister, Philip Hammond as its advisor.  

    Read More: Pakistan decides to make cryptocurrency illegal

    Some businesses are now withdrawing their applications, including B2C2, a London-based crypto trading firm, just removed itself from the FCA’s provisional registry.

    B2C2’s spot trading activity has been relocated to the company’s U.S. Entity from this week. The firm’s business is now unaffected as it is handled by an FCA-authorized subsidiary.

  • ‘Remarks not helpful’: UK cancels big meetings with Pakistan to protest Khan’s stance on Russia

    ‘Remarks not helpful’: UK cancels big meetings with Pakistan to protest Khan’s stance on Russia

    Both the United Kingdom (UK) and Pakistan administrations have learned that the diplomatic relations at this point of time have cooled off to the extent that the UK government has cancelled two important visits after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the day Russia started assault of Ukraine and then PM’s blistering speech five days ago in which the prime minister said Western diplomats were treating Pakistan like slaves by pushing for tougher stance on Russia, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for The News.

    Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yousuf’s official visit to the United Kingdom for a meeting with UK’s National Security Adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove was cancelled by the UK government to protest against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia, both Pakistani and the UK sources confirmed to The News.

    This week, a high-powered delegation of the UK administration was supposed to visit Pakistan for talks on various issues but that visit has been called off, said the UK government source to The News, who confirmed that the message was conveyed to Pakistan.

    The source shared that tensions are so heightened that the UK government called over UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner for a briefing in relation to the new situation, including the UK-Pakistan relations. The source said Turner has briefed his government policy makers during the London briefings where the UK’s aid to Pakistan came under discussion too and a new policy in this regard will be announced soon.

    The UK government source shared that PM Imran Khan’s public condemnation of the European nations have caused unease amongst the countries, especially Britain, which has often supported Pakistan at various international forums.

    READ MORE: ‘Kya hum aap ke ghulaam hain?’ PM Khan slams EU ambassadors based in Pakistan

    The Pakistani source shared that Pakistan has decided to follow an independent foreign policy and PM Khan’s visit to Russia and his latest public statements are a reflection of Pakistan’s new approach. The source said Pakistan is not against any country and has the right to follow its own policies.

    On Sunday, PM Khan questioned European Union (EU) envoys in Pakistan for their letter asking Islamabad to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “Are we your slaves that you think we will do whatever you ask us to do?”

    PM should not have reacted publicly against EU, says Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday said PM Khan should not have reacted “publicly” against the European Union in his recent speech where he lashed out at the bloc’s ambassadors for their “undiplomatic” statement asking Pakistan to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

  • Shehbaz Sharif sends bouquet to Jahangir Tareen

    Shehbaz Sharif sends bouquet to Jahangir Tareen

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly sent a bouquet to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Khan Tareen in London and conveyed his best wishes and prayers for Tareen’s speedy recovery, journalist Murtaza Ali Shah has tweeted.

    Tareen, who is currently in London for medical treatment. He was discharged from a private clinic on Saturday.

    It has been reported that PTI’s Aleem Khan, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close friend, was contacted by PML-N. He has reached Jahangir Tareen’s residence where Tareen is expected to address the meeting through a video link.

    It is pertinent to mention that Tareen had left for London on February 26 after his health deteriorated. But despite being away from home, he has been in touch with his political allies in Pakistan throughout.

    Tareen will stay in the United Kingdom (UK) for around a week more and will travel to Pakistan depending on his doctors’ advice.

  • British government calls off Pakistan’s visit to the UK over stance on Russia

    British government calls off Pakistan’s visit to the UK over stance on Russia

    The British government called off National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf’s United Kingdom (UK) visit on Friday without giving a reason, reports The News.

    According to a report, the visit was called off because of Pakistan’s policy towards the Russia and Ukraine war.

    Previously, the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Islamabad issued their reply to Pakistan’s neutral response after United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, saying that Pakistan should condemn Russia. In response, the spokesman for the Foreign Office (FO) Asim Iftikhar said, “We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised.”

    While replying to a query that the NSA visit cancellation was linked to the expression of its reservations about the rejoinder to the EU envoys, Iftikhar termed it “baseless”.

    In the UNGA emergency session on Wednesday, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

  • Zalmi owner to buy Chelsea Football Club: How much will it cost Javed Afridi?

    Zalmi owner to buy Chelsea Football Club: How much will it cost Javed Afridi?

    Pakistani businessman and Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) Team Peshawar Zalmi Owner Javed Afridi is reportedly interested in buying Chelsea Football Club which costs more than seven billion dollars.

    The current owner of Chelsea Roman Abramovich who is a Russian billionaire said he would sell the football club for $7.35 billion and promised to donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.

    Abramovich, who had bought the club in 2003 put the club up for sale after receiving pressure over his position amid Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

    Khaleej Times reported that Afridi met with a sports and legal agency in the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday, reportedly to consult on buying the club. However, negotiations are underway.

    Besides Afridi, who also has stakes in Morris Garages (MG) Motors and Haier Pakistan, there are several other investors who are interested in buying one of the biggest and most famous football clubs in the world.

    Chelsea has won five Premier League titles and Football Association Challenge Cup (FA) Cup Trophies and won the Champions League twice.

  • After Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth tests positive for Covid-19

    The United Kingdom’s (UK) Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, said the Buckingham Palace.

    According to the Palace, the 95-year-old monarch is experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms”.

    It was confirmed she had been in direct contact with her eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales, who himself tested positive for the virus last week.

    Previously, it was confirmed that the Queen is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

    The news came forward only a few weeks after the Queen reached her platinum jubilee of 70 years on the throne on February 6.

    Following the announcement, well wishes from the public and politicians started coming in.

    British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson said, “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”

    Labour Party’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted, “The commitment Her Majesty the Queen has shown to our country continues to be unwavering. Wishing her a swift and safe recovery from Covid-19.”

  • PML-N Ishaq Dar appeals to take Senate oath virtually from UK

    PML-N Ishaq Dar appeals to take Senate oath virtually from UK

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) senior leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has reportedly written a letter to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in which he expressed his willingness to take his oath as a member of Senate “virtually” from the United Kingdom (UK) due to his illness, states Dawn.

    The letter, dated February 2nd reads, “It is requested that arrangements may please be made to enable me [Dar] to take the required oath, virtually, through any electronic mode as you may deem convenient; the same being within the applicable legal framework and being used by the apex court of Pakistan.”

    The former finance minister attached his medical report along with his appeal. He stated that because of his “prolonged illness and ongoing medical treatment” in the UK, he cannot return to Pakistan to take the oath in person.

    In 2018, following the elections, Dar’s rival candidate, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ‘s (PTI) Nawazish Ali Pirzada, approached the Supreme Court (SC) against Dar’s selection as a senator. At the time, the top court suspended the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) notification, which declared the PML-N leader’s victory. However, on January 10, the SC gave its verdict in favour of Dar.

    Dar has been living in London since 2017 (before the 2018 general elections). He went there at a time when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was dealing with a corruption case against him.