ISLAMABAD: The coordination committee on heritage sites has decided to map cultural, natural and religious sites across the country to develop plans for the preservation of heritage sites.

Tuesday’s meeting was chaired by Minister for National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mehmood and attended by culture and archaeology ministers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Singh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

Read more: Exploring the Old Town with Heritage Walk Karachi

National History and Literary Heritage Secretary Aamir Hasan, provincial secretaries, Department of Archaeology and Museums Islamabad Director General Syed Junaid Ashlaq and the Unesco director were also present.

The participants agreed to mapping cultural, natural and religious sites across the country, and to work together to prepare nomination dossiers of cultural and national heritage sites for Unesco’s World Heritage list.

A Punjab government representative gave a detailed presentation at the meeting on the impact of the Orange Line project on the Shalimar Gardens, while the director of the KP Department of Archaeology and Museums spoke about initiatives taken by the provincial government to implement cabinet decisions.

The minister said at the meeting that his division would provide all the coordination and assistant necessary to enhance cooperation in the area of literary, built-up and intangible cultural heritage. The provinces were asked to submit their suggestions for the preservation, maintenance and protection of heritage sites.

The committee was established in June 2018 to enhance coordination and information-sharing between federal and provincial governments on heritage sites.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday requested the Islamabad High Court for early hearing of the appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment reference.

A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will hear Mr Sharif’s appeal.

Barrister Munawwar Duggal has filed an application seeking immediate hearing of the appeal against the verdict announced by an accountability court in the reference on Dec 24, 2018.

In the application, the defence counsel pointed out that the winter vacation had ended and, therefore, the appeal against the conviction might be fixed before the available bench.

It may be mentioned that during the vacation, the IHC heard only important and urgent cases that included bail, habeas corpus and other matters related to fundamental rights.

Another IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq had on Monday taken up Mr Sharif’s petition seeking suspension of his sentence.

The bench, however, pointed out that since the appeal against the conviction in the Al-Azizia-Hill Metal Establishment had neither been fixed nor taken up, the petition for suspension of the sentence could not be entertained at this stage.

The bench reserved the order of the day after a preliminary hearing of the petition seeking suspension of the sentence.

The court, however, released the order on Tuesday deciding to take up the petition after the appeal against the conviction would be admitted for regular hearing.

Accountability court judge Mohammad Arshad Malik had on Dec 24 convicted Mr Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills Company (ASCL) and Hill Metal Establishment (HME) reference and awarded him seven years imprisonment and fined him Rs1.5 billion and $25 million.

Mr Sharif filed the appeal through his lead counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed who pointed out certain ‘extraneous’ factors which accountability judges never consider while imparting judgements in routine cases.

The judge, however, acquitted Mr Sharif in the reference pertaining to Flagship and other UK-based companies owned by his son Hassan Nawaz. As per the charge sheet, the former premier has allegedly “injected an amount of GBP3.2 million” in Flagship Investment Ltd and other companies.

The charge sheet accused Mr Sharif of accumulating these assets in the names of his children.

The National Accountability Bureau, on the other hand, has challenged the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship Investment reference and also requested the IHC to enhance his jail term from seven to 14 years.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet reviewed the Public Sector Development Programme 2018-19 and took various decisions about work on ongoing development projects and release of funds and sought the list of the old projects under investigation and those which could not have been completed over the last 10 years.

A meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and attended by the secretaries of different departments, discussed suggestions to decide how to release funds for the ongoing development projects. It was decided that the planning and development department would give final shape to new development schemes.

It was also decided that the sub-committee of the cabinet on the PSDP would review the slashed schemes.

The cabinet directed the sub-committee to submit the list of those schemes which were under investigation and others which could not have been executed or completed over the last 10 years, in the next cabinet meeting.

The chief minister said that the provincial cabinet and bureaucracy needed to jointly work as a team and each member of this team should fulfil his responsibilities,

“All departments have been given power to run their administrative affairs and they will be held accountable if any negligence was found in their performance,” Mr Alyani said.

The cabinet approved suspending of the funds for under-investigation development schemes. As per another decision of the cabinet, 245 on-going schemes will be presented to the sub-committee of the cabinet to decide whether they should be continued or suspended.

The cabinet directed all the departments to submit the layout and PC-1 of new development schemes to the finance and planning and development department before the cabinet presented the schemes in the Provincial Assembly for final approval.

The cabinet directed the planning and development department to exclude the Pat Feeder Canal Project and some other projects from the PSDP and include these projects in a separate list.

The cabinet also approved direct release of funds for various development projects to expedite work on them on temporary basis, and continue the practice on permanent basis if it yields positive results.

“Without any hesitation the provincial government would take strict action against week performers while competent officers would be rewarded because the government seeks to build a positive image through good governance and development of Balochistan,” Mr Alyani said. “We can’t tolerate compromise on the provincial government’s performance,” he added.

The cabinet also directed the planning and development department to start preparing development programme for 2019-20 and instructed all departments to fix timeframe of their development projects.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Tough times are ahead for land grabbers in the capital as a decision has been made to include them in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The capital administration and police jointly prepared a list of land grabbers operating in the capital which included the names of 22 people, said officials in the administration and police. The land grabbers employed goons and henchmen and used them to terrorise the citizens and grabbed their land.

Criminal activities, including land grabbing, reported to the police against the suspects were also checked and examined to take action against them. The Special Branch also prepared a report and sent it to the authorities concerned.

A decision was taken to include the names of all such elements in the watch list to effectively counter their activities. But later it was decided that the extreme action would be initiated against the top 10 land grabbers.

In this regard, a recommendation was made by the police to the capital administration for implementation. After approving, the capital administration sent the recommendation to the officer concerned for issuing a notification.

After inclusion in the watch list, the police can check the land grabbers’ and their kin’s bank accounts besides seeking details of their properties. Their criminal activities could be minimised if their movement is restricted, said the officials.

In late 2018, the capital administration included the name of Imtiaz Ali Khokhar alias Taji Khokhar and his son Farrukh Imtiaz Khokhar in the Fourth Schedule of the ATA on the request of the police for their alleged involvement in illegal activities, including land grabbing.

The land grabbers in connivance with the police and administration used to occupy land in the capital, said a senior official.

An inquiry conducted by a district and sessions judge in 2009 had stated: “…. the then civil judge, Islamabad was hand in gloves with the land mafia and glaringly misused his judicial authority for his personal gains, therefore, he deserves to be proceeded against for above misdeeds. In these adventures, Islamabad police, particularly PS Sihala was completely at their disposal.”

It added: “Like police, revenue department is completely under the thumb of …”

The police recommend the name of any person to the district administration for inclusion in the watch list after they are found involved in terrorism and linked with any banned outfit or terrorists. Besides, spreading sectarian, hatred and being involved in heinous crime can also be a ground for putting someone in the Fourth Schedule. On the recommendation of the police, the district administration includes the name of any person in the watch list.

After inclusion in the list, the person is bound to submit an affidavit of good behaviour to the area police. They are also bound to inform the police before going outside the district and upon their return.

“Without the permission from the district administration, the Fourth Schedulers cannot leave their city,” a police officer said.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Missing children and refusals by parents are the key challenges facing the eradication of polio in Pakistan, World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at the WHO head office on his last day in the country, Dr Ghebreyesus said: “Pakistan also needs to stop transmission of virus of crippling disease from Afghanistan. Our New Year’s wish is ‘zero’ polio by end of 2019.

The children of Pakistan and the children of the world deserve nothing less. Failure to eradicate polio would result in global resurgence of the disease, with as many as 200,000 new cases every year, all over the world.”

Dr Ghebreyesus was accompanied on his second official visit to Pakistan by WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari.

During his visit, he met with President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Health Services (NHS) Minister Aamer Mehmood Kayani, Foreign Affairs Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Planning, Development and Reforms Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar and Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari.

He said he was “glad to see” political will to address health-related issues, pointing to Mr Khan’s visits to hospitals in the capital as well as the government’s decision to double the health budget – currently 0.9pc of the GDP – this year and increasing it to 5pc in five years. He also praised the decision to impose a ‘sin’ tax on cigarettes and sugary beverages.

Dr Ghebreyesus said that “major investment should be made in primary healthcare”, adding that the government’s plans are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Family planning and stunting of over 40pc of children are very important issues. Every child’s first 1000 days are very important and policies should focus on them,” he said.

He added that the WHO would provide all the necessary support to implement the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme and to address the critical issue of stunting and malnutrition in Pakistan.

Dr Ghebreyesus also called on Mr Khan on Tuesday, accompanied by the president of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Division, Dr Christopher Elias.

He said the WHO had increased its focus on public health, country-level impact and improving people’s access to health-related knowledge and information. He also told Mr Khan about the WHO’s ongoing programmes and projects in the country, explaining that the organisation has increased its level of support in Pakistan considerably mainly due to intensified polio eradication activities.

Mr Khan said the government is determined to implement a transformative social and economic agenda for a ‘new Pakistan’ and reiterated his commitment to move forward with thesustainable development agenda.

Dr Elias also delivered a letter from Bill Gates to Mr Khan at their meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lahore, has decided to file a reference against Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

“NAB has decided to file a reference against Hamza Shahbaz for his alleged role being chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills to get constructed a bridge facilitating his mills out of the public money in Chiniot,” a senior official told Dawn on Tuesday.

An amount of Rs200 million was approved by then chief minister and Hamza’s father Shahbaz Sharif for the construction of the bridge.

He said the reference was likely to be filed by the end of this month.

The National Accountability Bureau has already announced filing a reference against Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

According to the NAB, Shahbaz Sharif, being chief minister of Punjab, had issued a directive for the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily to benefit the sugar mills owned by his sons.

The PML-N president misused his authority as Punjab chief minister to benefit factories owned by his sons, it said.

Hamza’s brother Salman Shahbaz is also facing similar charges being director of the mills but the bureau has not yet decided whether to include his name in the reference or not.

Salman Shahbaz is in the United Kingdom.

According to NAB, Salman left the country to skip its hearings.

Hamza was stopped from leaving the country at Lahore airport last month as his name was on the exit control list (ECL).

Hamza is also facing an inquiry in income beyond means case.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

LAHORE: The irrigation department’s willingness to provide 100 cusecs to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) from the Bambawala-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal’s Batapur point has finally paved the way for launching a mega water treatment project for clean drinking water.

The project was stalled since long as the authorities thought its cost could be reduced if Wasa was provided with water from the canal at Batapur rather than its point situated across the river Ravi, it is learnt.

“The irrigation department has now agreed to allow Wasa to get the canal water from the Batapur (GT Road) which will reduce the cost of laying of pipes for 10 to 12km. The department had earlier selected the canal’s point that comes after crossing of the river Ravi but the experts went against it and suggested Batapur point,” a senior Wasa official told Dawn on Tuesday.

The agency plans to set up a huge water treatment plant near the canal. The plant would make the canal water drinkable after treatment and provide it to the Lahorites through underground pipes. The objective of launching the project is to avoid fast depletion of the water table due to public and private sectors’ tube wells, domestic pumps etc. In an effort to resolve the issue, Wasa had decided to launch the project and complete it on a fast track.

“The irrigation department would provide Wasa with 100 cusecs of canal water daily that would first be made drinkable through treatment and then supplied to the citizens. Initially, the areas in north-east Lahore will get the supply of this treated water,” the official explained.

He said the provincial government would release funds for the project after its approval.

Talking about other mega projects, the official said Wasa had a plan to establish initially three wastewater treatment plants to treat wastewater (rain and sewer water) and discharge it into the Ravi.

“This scheme is also under the approval phase these days and we have already assured the Supreme Court to establish three wastewater plants at Mehmood Booti, Shadbagh and Shahdara. Three more such plants would be established at various city points at a later stage,” he said.

HOUSING SCHEMES: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) dismantled the entire infrastructure of seven illegally developed housing schemes. The schemes where the teams launched operation were Capital City, Gulshan-e-Mehrab, GC Garden, Gulshan-e-Haidar, Al-Wahab Garden, Satellite Town and Rachna Town, according to a spokesman.

ENCROACHMENTS: The City administration continued its anti-encroachment operation, demolishing illegal structures and sealing six shops for displaying goods outside their premises.

“The operation is going on indiscriminately without any pause and assistant commissioners are observing all roads and areas,” said a spokesman for the city admin.

He said the anti-quackery drive was also in full swing and health officials sealed City Medical Centre at Garhi Shahu being run by a quack, Azeem Khan. “A case was also registered against the quack,” he added.

APPROVED: The Provincial Development Working Party approved various development schemes, including Rehabilitation of 662 Dysfunctional Rural Water Supply Schemes (Revised), worth Rs8.195bn.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched investigation against Punjab Education Secretary (Schools) Sheikh Zafar Iqal for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.

According to a source, the NAB Lahore initiated probe against the bureaucrat following information that he allegedly owned over 60 properties here and abroad.

The properties include rice mills and filling stations. Of the total properties, Mr Iqbal made 47 during his service and remaining he received in shape of gifts, the source said.

Zafar Iqbal was not available for comments when Dawn tried to reach him by phone. A TV channel claimed that the accused had confessed to owning properties in question.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

BAHAWALPUR: A police moharrar not only made a Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) raiding team hostage but also got the officials locked up at Civil Lines police station for detecting an illegal gas compressor installed at his house in the Khakwani Colony here.

According to sources, the team detected an illegal gas compressor installed at the house of Civil Lines police station moharrar Azhar Hussain Nadeem. When the team tried to disconnect the gas supply of the house, Mr Nadeem harassed the SSGC officials and took them hostage.

The moharrar then called his colleagues who took the SSGC team to the police station and detained the officials in the lock-up. On receipt of the information, SSGC Regional Manager Malik Bashir Ahmed reached the police station and got the officials released.

SSGC officials said a case had been registered against the moharrar for gas theft and demanded departmental action against his for abuse of power.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

PESHAWAR: A group of tribal elders here on Tuesday demanded of the government to increase the number of provincial assembly seats in Khyber tribal district otherwise the residents of the area would launch a campaign to get the status of a separate province for the erstwhile Fata.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar press Club, the elders, led by Bazaar Gul Afridi, the president of Khyber Union, said that government had formed a constituency of provincial assembly in each tehsil of Khyber tribal district -- Jamrud, Bara and Landi Kotal.

Mr Afridi said that provincial assembly seat PK-105 was given to Landi Kotal, PK-106 to Jamrud and PK-107 to Bara tehsil but Election Commission of Pakistan did not bother to check population of those areas before announcement of the constituencies.

He alleged that the delimitation was carried out on the recommendations of local leaders of the ruling PTI to accommodate their own people. He said that the constituencies were so vast that those were connected to Afghanistan on one side and to Kurram tribal district on the other side.

Mr Afridi said that many displaced people of Bara were still living in camps. If timely steps were not taken for their rehabilitation, they would be deprived of their right to vote, he added.

He said that tribal people would not accept the ‘controversial’ census. He urged the government and ECP to re-conduct the census and increase number of provincial assembly seats in Khyber.

Mr Afridi said that tribal people would agitate if their demands were not accepted immediately. He said that government should also take pragmatic steps for welfare of the people without wasting time.

He said that people in Khyber district were still deprived of clean drinking water, education and health facilities despite tall claims of the rulers. He asked the government to repair and reconstruct the damaged and destroyed educational institutions, healthcare centres and roads.

Mr Afridi also demanded increase in the compensation amount for rehabilitation of the displaced families.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

LAHORE: An accountability court granted on Tuesday the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a two-day transit remand of former railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq for his appearance in a case before the Supreme Court (SC) in Islamabad.

The NAB special prosecutor filed an application before the court pleading that being a former minister for railways, personal appearance of Mr Rafiq was required before a SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, seized with suo motu case regarding colossal losses incurred by the railways. He said the case was fixed for hearing on Jan 9 at the principal seat. Accountability court judge Syed Najamul Hassan accepted the request and granted two-day transit remand of the former railways minister.

Mr Rafiq and his brother former provincial minister Khwaja Salman Rafiq are on already physical remand with NAB till Jan 19 in the Paragon City Housing Society case.

NAB says Khwaja brothers established an unlawful housing project in the name of Air Avenue in connivance with former MPA Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia. The project was later converted into a new housing project- Paragon City Pvt Ltd.

It said the record showed that the Paragon City was an illegal society and not approved by the Lahore Development Authority.

NAB accused the suspects of cheating public at large and obtaining financial benefits from the funds of the illegal housing society.

stayed: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday stayed construction of Liaquatabad police station and directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to explain under what law and regulations police stations can be established in residential areas.

A resident of Model Town Extension, Mian Jamal, had filed a petition challenging the construction of the police station. The petitioner through his counsel pleaded that the construction of police stations in residential localities was in violation of the LDA rules.

During the hearing, Justice Ayesha A Malik admonished the legal adviser of the LDA for seeking adjournment in the case. The judge observed that the court was not supposed to allow prolonged adjournments to government departments.

Justice Malik adjourned hearing till Jan 21 and directed the LDA’s counsel to apprise the court about its regulations regarding construction of police stations in residential areas.

The petitioner contended that buildings of law enforcement agencies were a serious threat to life and property of citizens. He said the LDA rules did not allow construction of sensitive installations, including police stations, in populated areas. He asked the court to restrain the government from constructing Liaquatabad police station in Model Town Extension.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

HARIPUR: Child abuse cases are increasing day by day and need to be curbed through a holistic approach otherwise such incidents would continue to deface the society.

Speakers said this at an awareness seminar organised jointly by Society for Peace and Conflict Management, University of Haripur, and district police here on Tuesday. They said that it was quite unfortunate that minor children were not safe from pedophiles whose presence was not restricted to a specific ethnic or socioeconomic group, but they were found within families of victims, schools, seminaries, acquaintances, police and other sections of society.

“It’s quite unfortunate that minor children of even three years of age who need to be engaged in physical and mental grooming are being taught what is good and what is bad touch,” said Younas Majaz, Haripur Union of Journalists president.

He said the current trend in the country indicated that every household with children was at risk. He criticised media coverage of children becoming victims of sexual abuse and called for avoiding playing up such cases.

Rafia Jadoon, sub-divisional officer education, said that unchecked use of mobile and internet by children was one of the contributing factors towards child abuse and the parents should monitor their children’s day-to-day activities.

She suggested incorporation of child protection measures in syllabus of educational institutions.

Advocate Gulnaz Rasheed said that the small number of convictions in child abuse cases was a proof of flawed FIRs and poor investigation.

Sadaqat Khan, member district public safety commission, said that despite being semi-conservative the society of Hazara division received the stigma of Faryal rape and murder in Havelian. He said that during last two years Hazara alone witnessed 130 cases of violence against children.

District police officer Dr Zahidullah said that concerted efforts were imperative for checking crimes against children. He announced setting up of a child protection unit in the district and sought support in creating awareness against child abuse in the society.

Dr Abdul Muhaiman, head of Islamic Studies Department of the university, also spoke on the occasion.

KILLED: An industrial worker was killed when a truck hit his motorcycle near Kot Najibullah interchange. Local police said that Mohammad Sheraz of Pandori village was on way to Hattar Industrial Estate for duty when a speeding truck (2160 LHR) hit his bike, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, the local police recovered body of a man from guava orchards in Gehr Khan village here on Tuesday. The man, identified as Tahir Ayub, 40, of Muradabad village, was missing from his house since Monday, police said.

The hospital sources said that the cause of death was stabbing with dagger. Family sources said that they had no enmity and did not nominate anyone in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

ISLAMABAD: The electronic media regulator has advised television channels to observe decency in their non-news content.

In an advice issued to all TV channels, the Pakistan Ele­ctronic Media Regu­la­tory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday asked them not to air dramas containing controversial themes, indecent clo­thing and gestures, controversial plots (involving infidelity and extramarital affairs, etc) and unnecessary details of events.

“Such content is not only distressing for viewers but is also against the commonly accepted standards of decency,” the Pemra advice said.

The regulator said the trend of airing quite bold themes in dramas had resulted in massive public complaints on the Pakistan Citizen Portal (PCP), Pemra Complaints Call Centre and Feedback System as well as on social media.

The Pemra statement said that viewers had severely criticised the content being telecast, and their opinion was that dramas were not depicting the true picture of Pakistani society.

“Indecent scenes, dialogues, extramarital relations, violence, inappropriate dressing, rape scenes, bed scenes, use of drugs and alcohol, and intimate moments between couples are being glamorised in utter disregard of Pakistani culture and values,” Pemra said.

Regulator says the trend of introducing bold themes in dramas has resulted in massive public complaints

It said that established religious beliefs about divo­rce and halala were being distorted through weak plots/storylines, creating confusion among viewers about religious principles.

The media regulator also advised the channels to come out of stereotypical ideas as a majority of the scripts re­­­­­volved around women, having the same story pick, plot or purpose and dramas depict hackneyed image of women.

“The script writers are confined to saas-bahu vendetta, extramarital affairs, divorce and infidelity etc,” the regulator said, adding that “all TV channels are, therefore, required to stop airing such content in dramas and produce content in consonance with socio-cultural norms as per aspirations of Pakistani society”.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

A re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) pipeline in Rahim Yar Khan was targeted in a bomb attack early on Wednesday.

According to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) sources, the blast was caused by a timed explosive device.

The explosives were planted in a 36-inch-diameter pipeline at Bhong Road in Sadiqabad near the Bhong Sui Gas repeater station A-1, Rescue 1122 officials said.

Following the blast, eight firetrucks under Rescue 1122, SNGPL and a private factory reached the spot to extinguish the fire.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Sadiqabad Abbas Raza Nasir described the blast as "a terrorist act". He told Dawn that SNGPL engineers had arrived at the site of the blast and that two scientists were expected shortly to conduct forensic tests.

According to AC Nasir, restoration will take between 24 and 48 hours.

More details to follow

GHALANAI: A car was badly damaged after it hit an improvised explosive device planted on the roadside in the Ambar tehsil of Mohmand tribal district on Tuesday. Local traders of chromite were on board the vehicle, but they remained unhurt, officials said.

They said the car ran over the IED in the Olai Shah area of Ambar.

Assistant Commissioner, Lower Mohmand, Qaiser Alam Khan confirmed the incident and said that the administration had launched investigation into it.

After the incident, the security forces cordoned off the area and started a search operation in the adjoining areas. However, no one was arrested till filing of the report by Tuesday evening.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

LAHORE: A district and sessions court judge granted on Tuesday pre-arrest interim bail to PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar and his brothers MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and Shafi Khokhar in a case of occupying private land unlawfully.

The Khokhars brothers along with their counsel appeared before the court of Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Shahzad Raza where their counsel said the Nawab Town police lodged a case against his clients for illegally possessing private land. He denied the charges of illegal possession, saying petitioners were ready to join police investigation to prove their innocence. The counsel said there were apprehensions that the police might arrest his clients.

The judge allowed the bails and directed the petitioners to deposit surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo motu notice into complaints by a number of individuals against Khokhars. The chief justice ordered the police to lodge cases on the complaints of citizens and get their land retrieved. On his direction, Anti-Corruption Establishment has also launched investigation into complaints against the Khokhars.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday made it clear that the Supreme Court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".

A three-member SC bench, under the chief justice's stewardship, was hearing an appeal filed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) against high courts' decision to ban the broadcast of Indian content on TV channels in Pakistan.

Pemra's counsel Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri apprised the SC bench that foreign content had been banned on court orders before a high court issued a stay order against it.

Pemra Chairman Saleem Baig told the court that 65 per cent of the content shown on Filmazia channel is foreign and that the number at times goes as high as 80 per cent.

At this, the chief justice remarked that "we will not allow Indian content to be aired on [Pakistani] channels".

Pemra counsel explained to the chief justice that "Filmazia is not a news channel but is an entertainment channel; it does not do any propaganda."

"It is, however, damaging our culture," the top judge countered.

The chief justice observed that the Pakistan Broadcasters Association's counsel, Faisal Siddiqui was not in attendance. "We cannot pass a judgement without hearing him," he said.

Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till the first week of February.

In 2016, Pemra had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.

The decision was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after similar actions were taken by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.

In 2017, the Lahore High Court had lifted the Pemra-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections regarding the same.

In October 2018, the Supreme Court had reinstated the ban on the transmission of Indian content on local television channels, setting aside the LHC orders.

ISLAMABAD: Extending another olive branch to arch-rival India, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday congratulated the Indian cricket side on becoming the first team of the subcontinent to have won a Test series against Australia on their home ground.

In his tweet, the prime minister also acknowledged the unprecedented achievement of Indian captain Virat Kohli and his team.

The fourth and final Test match between India and Australia ended in a draw on Jan 6. Indian team’s 2-1 lead was unprecedented as no Asian team had ever defeated Aussies in their own land.

“Congratulations to Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team for the first-ever win by any subcontinent team in a Test series in Australia,” Prime Minister Khan tweeted.

In his first address to the nation after assuming charge of his office in August last year, the prime minister had urged India “to take one step forward, Pakistan will take two”. The opening of the Kartarpur corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims is also said to be one of the measures taken by Pakistan to restore relations with India.

Prime Minister Khan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year a letter suggesting that the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. However, India had cancelled the meeting within a day of approving the plan. The cancellation had been accompanied by a strong statement from India, which was followed by a trenchant response from Pakistan.

On India’s response, Prime Minister Khan said: “I had such a bad response…it really surprised me that why would anyone be scared of dialogue? Then there are pre-conditions put on such dialogues…. It is almost as if there is no intention for peace.”

In a recent interview to Turkey’s news channel TRT World, Mr Khan said India was involved in committing human rights violations in held Kashmir, but it would never succeed in suppressing the freedom movement of Kashmiris.

He said Pakistan wanted to hold dialogue with India, but New Delhi has refused Islamabad’s offer several times. “Pakistan will wait for the 2019 general elections in India to be over for its current outreach to get a positive response from New Delhi,” he added.

Meeting with WHO, Bill Gates Foundation officials World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and President of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Division Dr Christopher Elias called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at PM Office.

Acting head of WHO Country Office Pakistan Dr Nima Saeed Abid and chief adviser to the WHO director general Dr Senait Fisseha were also present during the meeting.

The Pakistani side included Minister for Health Aamer Mehmood Kiani, PM’s focal person on polio eradication Babar Bin Atta, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Health Secretary retired Captain Zahid Saeed and other senior officials.

Dr Adhanom said WHO had increased its focus on public health, country-level impacts and bringing improvements in people’s access to health-related knowledge and information.

He informed the prime minister about WHO’s ongoing programmes/projects in Pakistan. The organisation has considerably increased level of support in Pakistan, mainly due to intensified activities of polio-eradication initiatives.

The prime minister welcomed the WHO director general and his delegation to Pakistan and said the country attached importance to WHO. Pakistan appreciated the role of WHO in the health care system, he added.

“The government is determined to implement a transformative social and economic agenda for a ‘New Pakistan’,” he said. He reiterated his government’s commitment to moving forward the sustainable development agenda.

The Prime Minister Khan said the government continued to tackle polio eradication as a national public health emergency, adding that polio vaccination activities were well organised in close collaboration with the provinces and were directly overseen by the national, provincial and divisional task forces.

Dr Christopher Elias delivered a letter from Mr Bill Gates to Prime Minister Khan.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019

Suspicious packages were sent to more than a dozen foreign embassies and consulates ─ including the Pakistani mission ─ in major Australian cities on Wednesday in a seemingly orchestrated but scattershot campaign.

Emergency services raced to a string of diplomatic facilities which had received packages containing suspected hazardous material, all within the space of a few hours.

There was no obvious pattern to countries targeted, with consulates of Pakistan, the United States, China, Italy, India, Japan and New Zealand suffering scares.

The packages were not believed to be dangerous, but police, fire crews and forensic teams were urged to use breathing apparatus as they documented and double- or triple-bagged the materials for further testing.

Victoria Police said there was no threat to the public: "At this time we believe the matter is targeted and not impacting the general community."

Most of the sites ─ also including locations near the Spanish, Swiss, and Egyptian consulates ─ were evacuated as a precaution but have since been declared safe.

A British High Commission spokesperson said its consulate general in Melbourne had been targeted, but "all our staff are safe and accounted for".

The US consulate in the city said it had also received a "suspicious" package, which a spokesperson said was handled in coordination with police and the fire service.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said it had sent a note to all diplomatic missions in the capital on Tuesday, "alerting them to the possibility of suspicious packages being delivered by mail".

That warning was triggered after three earlier incidents at offices in Sydney and Canberra. Local media on Monday reported that the Argentine consulate in Sydney had received a package containing white powder. It did not test positive for toxins.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revealed before a Supreme Court bench on Wednesday that the licences of 16 pilots and 65 cabin crew of various airlines have been suspended for allegedly holding fake educational credentials.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a case relating to the verification of degrees of pilots and other staff of various airlines operating in the country.

The CAA counsel informed the bench that the verification of degrees of all airline staff had been completed, save for six. These six cases involve airline officials who are currently abroad.

See: Five PIA pilots have not even done matric, SC told

He stated the degrees of 16 pilots and 65 cabin crews turned out to be forged during the verification process. The licences of these staff members were subsequently suspended.

Justice Nisar during the hearing remarked that an impression prevailed that the authorities were acting with "haste" regarding the matter of educational credentials because of court orders. "We do not want to prohibit anyone's livelihood," he added.

The top judge stressed that the record on the basis of which airline staff have been suspended should be correct.

The CAA lawyer stated that the pilots whose licences have been suspended have the right to appeal.

Appearing before the bench, a pilot complained that his licence was suspended even though "my degree is genuine". The chief justice, however, directed all airline officials to approach the relevant forums with their grievances.

The SC bench wrapped up the case, which it had taken up in May 2018, after hearing all the parties.

At a hearing in December, the CAA had informed the top court that the academic credentials of seven pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines had been found to be bogus and five of them had not even passed their matriculation exam.

According to a report submitted by the additional attorney general in the court earlier, there are 3,667 pilots and cabin crew in all four local airlines.