Islamabad court dismisses Gill’s bail plea in sedition case

A District and Sessions court of Islamabad dismissed the post arrest bail petition of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on Tuesday.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal pronounced the reserved verdict.

Gill was arrested on August 9 in Islamabad after a sedition case was filed against him for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army. He was already facing sedition charges, but the Islamabad Police last week also registered a case against the PTI leader over possession of an illegal weapon.

His bail in the arms recovery case has already been approved.

Gill was booked in the case after police raided the incarcerated PTI leader's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday where they recovered weapons, a satellite phone, and foreign currency.

The PTI has repeatedly demanded that the party leader be released on bail, alleging that he is facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.

Gill, during the raid at his Parliament Lodge's residence, also told journalists that he had been sexually assaulted.

The party leader also asserted that he was denied treatment for asthma; however, the federal government and police have refuted the allegations.

 

Sindh Govt announces free medical facility for flood affectees

Sindh government has announced free of charge medical facility for the flood-affected people at Dow Medical University Hospital in Karachi.

This was stated in a news release issued from Commissioner Karachi office on Monday.

In Sindh, so far 349 people have been killed by floods with over 170,000 houses destroyed and crops spanning 2,800,000 acres were severally damaged.

Pakistan Army has joined the national and provincial authorities in responding to the floods and COAS on visited the areas which has been hit heavily by the rains.

Shaukat Tarin allegedly directs Punjab, KP to withdraw from IMF deal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Tarin has allegedly asked Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Ministers to backtrack from IMF commitments in order to pressurize federal government.

According to details, an audio clip has surfaced in which former finance minister was allegedly giving directions to provincial finance minister to derail International Monetary Fund deal.

In alleged audio, Shaukat Tarin said that they need to backtrack from Rs750 billion commitments and tell the lender that the commitment Punjab made was pre-floods and now the province "cannot honor it".

The PTI leader told the finance minister to draft a letter and send it to him for vetting so it could be sent to the federal government and later on to the IMF representative in Pakistan.

At Tarin’s request, Leghari asked whether Pakistan would suffer if Punjab withdraws from the deal.

"Well, frankly isn’t the state already suffering because of the way they are treating your chairman [Khan] and everybody else? IMF will definitely ask them: where will you get the money from now?" Tarin responded.

He further said that Centre is sending PTI leadership to jail and filing terrorism case. Tarin said that this could not go on further and the party could not bear being "mistreated" and not respond. "We cannot be blackmailed.

PM Shehbaz visits flood affectees in Nowshera

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has visited Nowshera to review operation in flood-affected areas.

During the visit, the prime minister would also distribute cheques of cash relief assistance among the flood-stricken people.

The PM has also been briefed by the relevant authorities on the damages and relief operations in the area. PM have also been informed about the relief camps arranged for the flood affected.

Apart from reviewing the relief work, the Prime Minister also met the flood victims.

 

Sedition case: Shahbaz Gill willing to apologise, lawyer says

Shahbaz Gill is willing to apologise for his controversial remarks, his lawyer told a district and sessions court in Islamabad.

On August 9, Gill was arrested from Banigala Chowk in the capital a day after making controversial remarks on a private TV channel. He was subsequently booked on charges of sedition and inciting members of state institutions against the Pakistan Army.

At the outset of the hearing, the Islamabad Capital City Police presented the case record in court as directed by the judge at the last hearing of his bail plea.

Additional District and Sessions judge Zafar Iqbal resumed the hearing on the bail plea this morning.

During the hearing, Gill's lawyer Burhan Moazzam asked if he can see the case records submitted in court by inspector Arshad.

The court directed the inspector to show the record to the lawyer. However, prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi objected that they cannot show the supplementary challan of the case.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing shortly.

After the hearing restarted, Gill's lawyer maintained that the police didn't show the statement recorded under Section 161.

"The police is showing all statements except for Gill's," the lawyer said.

At this, the court directed the police to show Gill's initial statement to the defence lawyer.

Death toll breaches 1061 mark as flash floods sweep country

Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan have killed over 1,061 people and injured and displaced thousands more.

Powerful flash floods in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caused the Kabul River to swell, sweeping away bridges overnight, cutting off some districts from road access.

Downstream, fears of flooding around the river banks prompted thousands in the district of Charsadda to flee their homes, according to disaster officials, with some spending the night on highways with their livestock, miles away from their inundated villages and towns.

The picturesque Kalam Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is one of the areas most affected by the rains and flooding. Waters from overflowing rivers swept away entire buildings, including an iconic hotel.

The monsoon season, which began earlier than normal this year, has lashed Pakistan with particularly heavy rains and rescuers have struggled to evacuate thousands of marooned people from flood-hit areas. The crisis forced the government to declare a state of emergency.

Historic monsoon rains and flooding have damaged more than 950,000 homes while over 800,000 animals were killed. Over 3,400km of roads and about 150 bridges were severely damaged.

In Balochistan all 34 districts of the province were badly affected by heavy rain and flooding and road networks were destroyed and bridges washed away and relief was only possible by deploying helicopters, which are not often able to operate because of bad weather.

Provincial officials have confirmed over 250 deaths but the number was expected to increase significantly after communications are restored.

In Punjab, the Rajanpur district appeared to be the hardest hit along with the district of Dera Ghazi Khan. Thousands of mud and brick houses were inundated by water, most of them completely demolished or at least partly destroyed.

Residents made homeless by the flood took shelter on higher ground, where they waited for relief goods and other help.

In Sindh, so far 349 people have been killed by floods with over 170,000 houses destroyed and crops spanning 2,800,000 acres were severally damaged.

Pakistan Army has joined the national and provincial authorities in responding to the floods and COAS on visited the areas which has been hit heavily by the rains.

 

PM summons 'emergency meeting' of Govt's allies

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an "emergency meeting" of the government s allies to deliberate upon the current situation in the country.

The emergency meeting of the government allies will be held at the Prime Minister house at 6:00pm today (Monday).

The chief ministers of all provinces have also been invited to attend the meeting. The meeting will be also attended by the heads of the three armed forces.

According to media reports, the meeting will review the current flood situation in the country. Important decisions are expected to be taken during the meeting.

Pope Francis urges aid for flood-hit Pakistan

Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to help flood-hit Pakistan.

According to international media, his comments came as he visited the city of L'Aquila in central Italy, which was hit by an earthquake that killed more than 300 people in 2009.

The 85-year-old pope praised the people of L'Aquila's "resilience" and "dignity".

Pope Francis, who used a wheelchair during the visit, was due to return to the Vatican early this afternoon.

He will chair a meeting with cardinals from around the world on Monday and Tuesday, where they will discuss the future of the Catholic Church.

Monsoon floods: PM convenes APC on Monday

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has summoned an “All Parties Conference” (APC) over the ongoing flood disasters in the country, which will be held at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday.

The conference will discuss measures to tackle the calamity befallen on the people due to the monsoon brust and flooding across the country.

It should be noted that the humanitarian situation in Pakistan has deteriorated further over the past two weeks as heavy rains continue to cause flooding, over 1000 have died due to rain and flood disasters in the four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan, while millions have been displaced.

Furthermore, crops on millions of acres have been completely destroyed and many houses have become piles of rubble

Death toll breaches 1030 mark as flash floods sweep country

Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across much of Pakistan have killed over 1,030 people and injured and displaced thousands more.

Floods continued to devastate the country on Sunday, particularly the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan leaving at least 119 people dead and more than 70 injured in the past 24 hours.

Floods have claimed over 1,030 lives, with 74 deaths reported in Sindh, 31 in K-P, six in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), four in Balochistan, and one in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

According to the data released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 32 children, 56 men and nine women are among those who died in the flood after the rains, while the number of victims has reached 5.77 million.

Over the past 24 hours, nearly 0.95 million houses and 0.72 million livestock were flooded while 0.27 million houses were destroyed and 3,116 kilometres of highways and 149 bridges were washed away.

According to media reports, 0.49 million people in Sindh, 0.45 million in Punjab, and 0.36 million in Balochistan have been affected by floods.

Meanwhile, two ships carrying relief goods from Turkiye are expected to arrive in Karachi tomorrow [Monday]. The Turkish Consul General in Karachi will hand over the relief goods to the Pakistani authorities at the airport tomorrow morning.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Sunday that various private mobile network services had been restored in the provincial capital of Balochistan, while efforts were underway “to restore services in other affected areas”.

Earlier this week, as the unprecedented vicious attacks triggered by climate change had continued unabated, leaving many marooned, the environmental crisis had robbed Balochistan of digital connectivity after almost cutting it off from the rest of the country physically.

PTI plotting against IMF deal: Shehbaz Sharif

Self-centred politics can cause irreparable damage to Pakistan as unfortunately, a party is playing politics over the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when the lender's board meeting is around the corner, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, without naming the PTI.

"I have never seen such self-centered politics; it will be a huge injustice with Pakistan and a big conspiracy against the country,” the premier said while referring to PTI on his visit to the flood victims in Sujawl, Sindh.

PM Shehbaz said that the federal government had allocated Rs38 billion in grant to support the flood-affected families with the disbursement of Rs25,000 to each of them.

Speaking to the flood victims, the prime minister said he had already announced Rs15 billion in grant to Sindh while the distribution of flood relief amount among the affected families had commenced in the province after Balochistan under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). “The BISP has complete data, ensuring prompt and fair distribution among the deserving families,” he added.

Assuring the provincial governments of the federal government’s support, the prime minister said other provinces would also be provided with grants. The prime minister was accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, federal ministers and relevant authorities.

The prime minister said the federal government had continued it efforts to support the provincial governments in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts with the support of the National Disaster Management Authority and other relevant departments. “A survey will be launched soon to assess the damages and losses caused by floods across the country,” he added.

The prime minister stressed that in the hour of trial, they had to work collectively, instead of playing politics.

The prime minister said that they would have to devote themselves to the country and the nation and urged industrialists and businessmen to come forward and support people suffering from the impacts of rainfall and floods. He said it was time to seek Allah Almighty’s mercy.

“In Swat and Kalam, flash floods have caused colossal losses as hotels have been swept away and scores of lives were lost,” he maintained. The prime minister also directed Minister for Energy Khurram Dastagir to supervise efforts for restoration of power supply to affected areas.

Meanwhile, Pakistan contacted the IMF for a clarification of a letter written by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail.

 

PM to visit Balochistan today to review rescue, relief activities in flood-hit areas

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit Haji Alladino village of Jafarabad district Balochistan on Sunday to review the rescue and relief activities in the flood-hit areas.

Chief Secretary Balochistan and Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority will brief the Prime Minister about the relief provided to the flood affected people and restoration of the infrastructure.

The Prime Minister is expected to interact with the flood-hit people to know about the relief being provided to them.

Shehbaz Sharif will also have an aerial view of flood-affected villages of Hafeezbad, Gaibi Khan, Qadirpur and Shikarpur.

PM Shehbaz vows to overcome flood related issues with collective efforts

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during a visit to Sujawal district of Sindh on Saturday expressed the resolve to overcome flood related issues with collective efforts.

He made the remarks during a visit to Sujawal district of Sindh on Saturday where representatives of concerned departments briefed him about the devastation caused by the calamity.

The Prime Minister said the entire country is badly affected with flash floods due to incessant monsoon rains.

He said the heavy downpours in the season has caused human losses, damaged road and infrastructure across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

He said a collective policy will be framed in collaboration with the provinces for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people.

On the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif also appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister Sindh, administration and the armed forces for their rescue and relief operations in these areas.

Later, talking to the affected people, the Prime Minister said the federal government has allocated a grant of 38 billion rupees to support each flood affected family with disbursement of 25,000 rupees.

He said a grant of 15 billion rupees has already provided to Sindh province while the distribution of flood relief amount among each family has also commenced in Sindh province under Benazir Income Support Programme.

Shehbaz Sharif said with the support of National Disaster Management Authority and other relevant departments, the federal government will continue to support the provincial governments in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

He said that a combined survey would be completed soon which would enable them to get an estimate of the damages and losses caused by floods across the country.

The Prime Minister said politics over the agreement with International Monetary Fund could cause irreparable damage to Pakistan as an IMF board is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday

Clashes between rival armed groups erupt in Tripoli

Clashes have erupted between rival Libyan militias in the centre of Libyan capital Tripoli, with the sound of gunfire echoing through the heavily populated part of the capital city threatening two years of relative peace following a ceasefire deal.

The violence early on Saturday comes in the wake of a build-up of rival forces in Tripoli over the past week, who are jostling for power, as the North African country remains divided between rival administrations in the east and the west.

The country’s democratic transition was delayed after the presidential elections scheduled for last December were postponed indefinitely.

Tensions have risen after Fathi Bashagha, backed by the east-based parliament, was sworn in as prime minister in February, amid calls for Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the head of the transitional government based in Tripoli, to cede power. The United Nations had voiced concern after the Tobruk-based parliament voted to install Bashagha as prime minister.

Under a UN deal signed last year, Dbeibah was expected to hand over power after the December presidential elections. Dbeibah has refused to step aside, pledging to hold on to power until elections take place.

International media reported that houses and cars were damaged in the clashes between fighters from rival militia leaders Haitham al-Tajouri and Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli.

 

Army called in as floods uproot millions

Government has decided to deploy Pakistan Army to help the civilian authorities in rescue operations in the flood-hit areas.

The troops are being deployed in pursuant to the requests made by all the provincial governments in wake of the emergency situation due to torrential rains and floods.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, scores of people have died due devastating floods in rivers and streams. The flash floods washed away dozens of hotels, bridges, mosques and link roads in the Upper Swat district while hundreds of houses, shops and restaurants were submerged.

The Munda Headworks in Charsadda on Friday collapsed due to heavy monsoon rains due to which water levels in Jindi and Khiyali canals had increased.

The provincial government has declared rain emergency in several districts as flash floods triggered by torrential rains wreaked havoc in most parts of the province.

Meanwhile Balochistan remained cut off from the rest of the country as linking highways remained non-operational because relentless rains and floods did not allow authorities to repair the damaged artery.

Quetta and its outskirts remained submerged as over a day long rain spell inundated most parts of the provincial capital, bringing life to a standstill and leaving hundreds of families without homes.

Elsewhere in the country, a Punjab PDMA spokesperson said that moderate to high level of flooding was expected in the Indus River at Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa during the next 48 hours, which could affect the Mianwali, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur districts.

In Sindh, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Badin, Jacobabad, Umerkot, N. Feroze, Kashmore, Jamshoro, Dadu, Sujawal, Khairpur, Ghotki, Sanghar, Kamber, Umerkot, Matiari and Keamari were battered by the monsoon.

PTA reports internet service outages in KPK after flash floods

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported a disruption in communication lines in several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement today morning, the telecom regulator said flash floods have damaged optical fibre cable and led to power outages, due to which there is an "impact" on the services.

Services have been affected in Chitral, Upper Dir, Donbala, Swat, Mardan, Lal Qila Samarbaghdir, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.

"PTA is monitoring the situation closely. Work is underway to fully restore services," the telecommunication authority said.

Devastating flash floods have brought the lives of people across Pakistan to a standstill, with the rain and flood related death toll jumping to 982, according to official statistics.

Hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed and scores have been displaced as the government appeals to international donors in its bid to provide relief to the people. 

Devastating flash floods cripple Pakistan

Thirty million people have been affected and hundreds have been killed, government declares a national emergency, after heavy rains triggered historic flooding in the country.

The flow of water at the Munda Headworks bridge which collapsed last night has slowed down, but the threat of floods in Charsadda and Nowshera districts remains.

The bridge had broken down overnight due to the severe pressure of flood water, which disconnected Tehsil Shabqadar and Prang from the district.

As per media reports, the flow of water at Munda Headworks has reduced from 260,000 cusecs to 135,000 cusecs, said Charsadda Deputy commissioner Abdur Rehman Saturday morning.

In view of the expected flood, nearby localities were evacuated, he said, adding that the emergency measure was taken to avoid any human loss.

The deputy commissioner said that 17 relief camps have been established in Charsadda to deal with any emergency situation.

“Kabul River is still running in high flood,” he said, adding that the flow of water in the river is recorded at 280,000 cusecs.

“Water level is still high at Khayali Bridge in Kabul River,” he added.

A flash flood of 400,000 is expected to pass through the Kabul Rives in the next few hours, he warned.

The deputy commissioner confirmed that the flood water entered several areas in the district.

The Munda Headworks bridge incident took place late at night on Friday at around 11pm. The residents were then advised to leave their homes and go to government designated camps.

 

Floods kill more than 180 in Afghanistan

Flooding in Afghanistan this month has killed more than 180 people as torrential rains wrought widespread devastation in central and eastern provinces.

As per international media reports, 182 people had been killed and 250 injured. More than 3,100 houses were destroyed and thousands of livestock were killed, exacerbating the country’s economic and humanitarian crisis.

Afghanistan has been reeling from natural disasters this year, including drought and an earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people in June.

The nation has been largely cut off from the international financial system since the Taliban took more than a year ago.

Global humanitarian agencies have provided assistance for months, but have warned they need more access and funding to avoid a humanitarian disaster with thousands left homeless and no access to shelter or clean drinking water.

In Khoshi district in central Logar province, aid workers described widespread destruction from the powerful floods in recent days, with fields of crops reduced to mud and bodies of dead animals lying in piles.

About 20,000 people in the district were affected by flooding and 20 people, including at least six children, were killed with two more missing, the UN children’s agency said.

Last year, casualties topped 100 while dozens were reported missing in the remote Kamdesh district, about 200 kilometres northeast of the capital, Kabul.

In 2020, at least 100 people were killed in northern and eastern Afghanistan as the deluge ravaged large parts of Charikar city, the capital of Parwan province.

 

IHC issues show-cause notice to Imran Khan in contempt of court case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a show-cause notice to former prime minister Imran Khan in the contempt of court case.

It was stated in the notice that Imran’s threatening remarks against a female judge at a rally in Islamabad’s F-9 Park amounted to contempt.

“Therefore, you appear before the IHC bench on August 31, 2022 and explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against you,” the notice read.

It was further stated in the notice that the reason why the PTI chairman made threatening and insulting remarks against the judge because he wanted to get the verdict of his choice in the case which was sub judice at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

It was alleged in the notice that by making the objectionable speech, the former prime minister tried to obstruct justice.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday approved an interim bail of Imran Khan and directed the authorities not to arrest him until September 1.

Imran Khan appeared before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad and filed a petition for pre-arrest bail in a case of hurling threats at police officers and a lady judge.

The former premier adopted in his petition that the police registered an anti-terrorism case against him out of vengeance, demanding that the court accept his request for pre-arrest bail.

It is to be noted here that an anti-terrorism case had been registered against Imran Khan at Margalla police station in Islamabad after he threatened the Islamabad police officers and a lady judge at a public rally.

Pakistan floods: Death toll nears 1000

Flash floods have wreaked havoc in the country as the death toll has reached 1,343 people across Pakistan with scores injured due to rain-related incidents.

As per details, in the last 24 hours, 34 deaths were recorded taking the toll to 1,343. Meanwhile, the incessant rains in many areas have caused massive destruction across Pakistan.

As per an estimate, in Balochistan, the death toll has reached 234 so far while in Sindh 306 people have succumbed to the recent floods.

On the other hand, a total of 185 people died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the recent monsoon spells while 37 died in Azad Kashmir and 9 in Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

The data shared by the NDMA revealed that 6 lac 70 thousand 328 houses were completely destroyed due to rains and 7 lac 93 thousand 995 cattle have died. Highways were also affected by rains and floods across the country.

In Sindh, 2,328 km of highways were affected, 60 bridges were damaged, NDMA said.

The Climate-Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that the recent heavy monsoon falls have created a humanitarian crisis in the country.

In a series of tweets, Rehman said that heart-wrenching scenes of devastation were emerging from the affected areas, as thousands of people had been displaced because of the floods.

She also revealed that thousands of people have been trapped in floodwater waiting for rescue and relief.

On the other hand, the government has appealed to the nation to join hands for the relief of the flood affectees in Pakistan.

 

Flash floods wreak havoc in Swat

Flash floods damaged houses and crops, blocked roads and caused power outages in Swat with several people to leave their houses due to the damage caused by the floodwater.

Several houses and hotels were flooded at Mingora by-pass. While the road of Mingora by-pass was blocked for any kind of travelling as it was inundated with the floodwater.

Due to the risk of a high-level flood in the Swat river, the administration directed the residents to leave their houses.

Also, rains wreaked havoc in the Tank district. 90 percent of the area has been badly affected by the flood. The flashfloods also swept away 3 people.

On the other hand, due to the floodwater of the Chenab river, residents have been facing food shortages, power outages. The people have lost their lands and animals. Their houses have also been swept away with the flashflood. The people of the area are living under the sky without any roof or shelter.

IHC rejects contempt plea against PDM leaders

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a contempt petition filed against Maryam Nawaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The IHC upheld the registrar’s objection regarding that it was not the relevant forum to file the petition.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the plea with the objection raised by the registrar on Friday.

Local lawyer Ali Ijaz Buttar requested the court to start the contempt proceedings against the coalition leaders.

Justice Kiyani asked the lawyer what was his petition?

He replied that Maryam, Rana Sanaullah, Fazlur Rehman and others made contemptuous remarks about the judiciary on social media.

Justice Kiyani asked the lawyer if this court was mentioned in those remarks. He advised him to take his petition to either Supreme Court or the Lahore High Court.

Why the petitioner who belongs to Lahore has filed his plea in the Islamabad High Court, the judge objected saying nobody bothered to take notice of the contemptuous remarks at the time when they were uttered then why the filing of petition now.

North Korea logs new fever cases weeks after COVID victory claim

North Korea says it has found four new fever cases in its border region with China that may have been caused by coronavirus, two weeks after Kim Jong Un declared victory over COVID-19.

According to international media, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Thursday that health workers were conducting genetic tests on the samples taken from four people in the Ryanggang Province who exhibited fevers to confirm whether they were caused by the “malignant epidemic”.

Authorities immediately locked down the areas where the fever cases emerged and plan to maintain tight restrictions and quarantines until health workers determine the cause of the illness.

“[Health authorities] pay attention to the fact that those with fever had not been infected by the malignant epidemic,” KCNA said.

The country’s emergency anti-virus headquarters dispatched “talented epidemiological, virology and test experts to the area” and is taking steps to “trace all persons … connected with the suspect cases, and persons going to and from the relevant area and keep them under strict medical observation”, the report said.

North Korea said there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in any part of the country since August 10 when Kim declared victory over the virus and ordered preventive measures eased, just three months after the country acknowledged an outbreak.

Court accepts Asad Umar’s pre-arrest bail

A court in Islamabad on Thursday accepted the pre-arrest bail application filed by PTI leader Asad Umar in the case of violation of section 144.

In his petition, PTI leader had said that he was ready for interrogation by the police in the case.

He went on to say he feared that the police would arrest him only to demean and insult him. “When PTI was holding rallies across the country on the call of its Chairman Imran Khan, I was in Lahore,” Asad said, and prayed to the court to accept his bail plea in the case.

Earlier, PTI secretary general went to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the purpose where the court registrar raised objection to the petition, saying the forum of a sessions court was already available to him for seeking bail in the case.

Torrential rains, flash floods leave 151 people dead in Punjab

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has released a report containing the details of the damage caused by torrential rains and floods in Punjab from June 15 to August 21.

The PDMA Punjab report states that heavy downpours submerged 69 schools and seven basic health centres under rainwater. Rains and flash floods unleashed devastations in 555,893 areas in six districts of the province.

Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot and Layyah are the most affected areas, according to the PDMA report. The rainwater inundated 201,965 agricultural areas and 12,628 houses under flood water.

The PDMA data shows that at least 151 people lost their lives due to floods and rains, 606 people were injured and 341,077 others were displaced.

Rain and flood caused death to over two lakh large animals, and 2,586 small animals, while 37 roads and eight bridges were swept away in the water. Flood water also destroyed seven canals.

According to the PDMA Punjab report, 20,264 people and 516 animals were rescued from flood-affected areas. The report said the government has established at least 147 medical camps while 9,355 tented settlements were set up for the affected people.

According to the data released by PDMA, over one lakh animals were vaccinated. Food hampers were distributed to 19,839 people.

According to PDMA, rescue operation is still underway in the affected areas of the province with 551 rescuers and 84 boats participating in the relief and rescue activities.

The PDMA Punjab said the authority in concert with other government organisations is carrying out relief activities in the flood-ravaged areas and all resources are being utilized to provide relief to the flood victims.

Terrorism case: Imran Khan due in ATC today

Former prime minister Imran Khan will appear before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad to seek pre-arrest bail today (Thursday) in a terror case filed against him for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.

Khan will appear in person before the court where ATC judge Raja Jawwad Abbas will hear his plea.

The PTI chair had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture in custody. He said that the additional sessions judge who sent Gill into physical remand on the police's request should brace herself for consequences.

An FIR was registered against him under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Margalla police station for threatening the judge and other senior officers of the Islamabad Police during the rally.

A day after the registration of a case against him, Imran Khan secured transit bail till August 25 from the Islamabad High Court which directed him to approach the relevant forum for pre-arrest bail.

For today's hearing, strict security arrangements have been made around the Federal Judicial Complex, which is home to Islamabad's ATC. Security arrangements include the deployment of additional police personnel comprising 400 cops and FC personnel to assist the police.

All the ways leading to the judicial complex have been blocked using barbed wires and irrelevant persons have been restricted to enter the vicinity. Moreover, an armoured vehicle is also present outside the court.

Afghan refugees, migrants protest in UAE over uncertain future

Afghan refugees and migrants living in limbo at a United Arab Emirates (UAE) facility for nearly a year since being evacuated from Afghanistan held protests this week over what they say is a slow and opaque resettlement process.

Hundreds of Afghans carried banners and shouted for freedom on Monday and Tuesday, two Afghans in the facility told Reuters, estimating that thousands were awaiting resettlement to the United States or other countries.

Pictures and videos shared with Reuters showed children, women and men protesting inside the facility in Abu Dhabi, known as Emirates Humanitarian City, with temperatures in the Gulf Arab state reaching 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).

One boy held a small banner that read: “One year is enough!” Men and children chanting “we want justice” were seen in one video wearing white blindfolds inscribed with the word “freedom”.

The men and some children had bound their wrists, in an apparent gesture to what some Afghans said are prison-like conditions in the facility.

The UAE says it is committed to ensuring Afghan evacuees can live in safety, security, and dignity.

“Nearly one year, we have been here in detention and the camp is like a modern prison. No one is allowed to go out, they don’t know when (we) will be settled permanently to any country,” said one Afghan who declined to be identified.

A UAE official acknowledged there were frustrations and said that Abu Dhabi was working with the US Embassy to resettle the Afghans in the United States or elsewhere.

Resettlement was taking longer than Abu Dhabi wanted, the official said.

A State Department spokesperson said Washington was working to identify Afghans who may qualify for resettlement in the United States and “will be relentless in this effort” while “ensuring standard screening and vetting measures”.

More than 10,000 Afghans had been relocated from the Abu Dhabi facility to the United States and Washington was cooperating with the UAE and other countries to find “resettlement options” for those ineligible for US relocation, the spokesperson said.

Protests erupted at the facility in February after the resettlement process appeared to have stalled, prompting a visit by a US State Department official who said all Afghans there would be resettled by August.

The process resumed shortly after the visit. At the time, there were an estimated 12,000 Afghans at the facility in Abu Dhabi and another site nearby.

In August last year, Afghanistan’s Taliban ousted a US-backed government as US-led foreign troops were withdrawing.

Since then, the United States has taken in more than 85,000 Afghans, many processed in the Middle East and Europe.

Islamabad court sends Shahbaz Gill on judicial remand

Rejecting Islamabad police's plea for an extension in the physical remand of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, who is party chair Imran Khan's chief of staff, a district and sessions court Wednesday sent him to prison on judicial remand.

Judicial magistrate Aman Malik heard the plea seeking a seven-day remand extension in a sedition case. Apart from that, the police also asked the court to grant judicial remand of the PTI leader in an arms recovery case.

Gill was arrested on August 9 in Islamabad after a sedition case was filed against him for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army. He has since been back-and-forth in police custody and at the PIMS hospital.

He was already facing sedition charges, but the Islamabad police — a day earlier — also registered a case against the PTI leader over possession of an illegal weapon.

He was booked in the case after police raided the incarcerated PTI leader's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday — where they recovered weapons, a satellite phone, and foreign currency.

The prosecution sought an extension in the remand, which was strongly opposed by PTI's lawyers. After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict and announced it a few moments later.

The court sent the PTI leader on judicial remand in the sedition as well as the arms recovery case.

The PTI has repeatedly demanded that the party leader be released on bail, alleging that he is facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.

Gill, during the raid at his Parliament Lodge's residence, also told journalists that he had been sexually assaulted.

The party leader also asserted that he was denied treatment for asthma; however, the federal government and police have refuted the allegations.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the alleged torture of Gill in police custody.

15 die in house collapse incidents as rain continues to ravage Sindh

Heavy rains continue to ravage the province of Sindh, killing another 15 people in house collapse incidents in the districts of Sukkur, Shikarpur, and other areas and leaving hundreds of families stranded and homeless.

Rain lashed several cities in Sindh on Tuesday, including Sukkur, Shikarpur, Dadu, and Khairpur districts.

Six members of the same family died when the roof of their house collapsed in the Chak area of Shikarpur district. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took note of the incident and directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to provide immediate assistance to the deceased's heirs as well as rehabilitation.

 

A woman named Shamaila died in district Sukkur when a wall of her house collapsed, while three children died in Rohri due to a roof collapse. Three children, Ehtesham, Bisma, and Kashyan, were killed in Gherelo when their house's roof collapsed.

Meanwhile, in Hubbo Saeed Khan and Lakhi Ghulam Shah, two people were killed in a similar incident. Reports said that Akhairaj dyke broke near district Umerkot after the water level rose in LBOD, which inundated around 40 villages that included mud houses and cattle, while roads were washed away by the flood water.

The stranded people need rescue and relief as they lack access to Umerkot city. The rain victims in Khairpur, Sukkur, Qamber, and Dadu districts protested against the lack of facilities, such as tents, food, and shelter, and held the Sindh government responsible for their miseries.

Bilawal asks UN for help

 

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday appealed to the United Nations (UN) to help the flood-hit families. Speaking to the media in Shahdadkot, he said that there was a great need for tents in the affected areas of Sindh, adding that we all had to face the difficulties together. Too many houses and crops have been damaged. He also said that the Benazir Income Support Program will help the victims get help from the Sindh government.

"I am appealing to the UN to help us in this difficult time. Please help with rations and tents. My European tour has been cancelled due to the floods," he added. Bilawal Bhutto further said diseases were spreading in the flood-affected areas, flood victims needed immediate help, and the administration was assessing damage in the flood-affected areas.

Earlier, while chairing a meeting at the DC Office Qambar, Bilawal said that the unprecedented heavy downpour followed by hill torrents had wreaked havoc in the Qambar-Shahdadkot district and directed them to build embankments to save the main roads and arteries connecting different cities and towns from hill torrents.

He also directed CM Murad Ali Shah and elected MPs to work sincerely and energetically to serve the flood victims, terming their rehabilitation and rescue the biggest challenge for the provincial government.

Bilawal told the meeting that during his visit, he observed the Larkana-Shahdadkot Road that connects various towns and villages of both the districts flooded by hill torrents and ordered building embankments along the main road. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the chief engineer of irrigation to review the situation and deploy equipment to stop the erosion of roads by rainwater and hill torrents.

 

If Imran Khan's bail is rejected, govt will be left with 'no choice but to arrest him': Interior Minister

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said if PTI Chairman Imran Khan's request for bail is rejected by the court, the government will have "no choice but to arrest him".

"If the government decides, we will arrest Imran Khan," the minister said, and rejected the party's claims of the "devastation" that will follow.

He was speaking on a private TV programe and was referring to Khan being granted protective bail by the Islamabad High Court till Thursday in a terrorism case, after which he is expected to attempt to obtain pre-arrest bail.

The case was filed after the PTI chairman allegedly threatened a female judge — who remanded into police custody his chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill — besides speaking against senior police officials at a rally.

Referring to the statements by Gill which landed him in prison on sedition charges, the minister said that the remarks were "not the act of an individual".

“Gill’s [comments] were a part of the party’s campaign rather than an individual act," he said, adding: "Gill revealed during investigations that it was a written statement."

“PTI’s social media wing was also a part of the campaign,” he added.

Sanaullah accused the PTI of spreading "negative social media propaganda" targeting the Balochistan helicopter crash martyrs, and questioned why the party has not apologised for its alleged actions.

Speaking of the party's rule in Punjab, he said that the province is not being ruled by the PTI, “in fact, it is being ruled by PML-Q and the biggest thief”.

“The running of Punjab government affairs cannot go on this way. The stories we hear are bizarre,” he said, adding that matters aren’t being handled well between the PTI and PML-Q and they were unlikely to improve in the future.

Pakistan, Qatar reaffirm resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade & investment domains

Pakistan and Qatar have reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment domains.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani in Doha.

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.

They expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in engagement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Qatari leadership for the care afforded to Pakistani expatriates in their country.

Highlighting Pakistan’s rich human resource potential, the Prime Minister said he looks forward to working with the Qatari leadership in exploring more opportunities for Pakistanis who can contribute to Qatar’s development through their skill and enterprises.

Reviewing the latest developments in Afghanistan, Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of constructive engagement and the need for international community to scale up its support for Afghan people in dealing with the humanitarian and economic crises.

He congratulated Qatar on hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, and wished the people and government of Qatar every success in convening of the world’s largest sporting events.

Govt must show their writ over 'power-hungry' Imran: Zardari

Former president Asif Ali Zardari urged on Tuesday the institutions and government to establish their writ as he took a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan for criticising Pakistan's armed forces, police and judiciary.

"The institutions and government will have to establish their writ or else the law, Constitution and institutions will keep falling pray to his [Imran Khan] demands," a statement issued on Twitter stated.

As per media reports, in a meeting with Sindh ministers, Zardari was quoted as saying by the PPP said that the flood affectees in all four provinces are looking towards the government for help while the hunger for power is driving Imran Khan crazy day by day.

"This person is criticising our army every day and the same army's officers and soldiers are fighting against terrorists and laying down their lives in two provinces. He threatens the army, police and then a female magistrate and challenges them to arrest him," he said.

Zardari said that the judiciary must decide if Imran Khan is above the law, can take extra-judicial actions against "me, Mian Nawaz Sharif, my sister and Maryam Nawaz while trampling every law himself."

He also drew attention towards the flood emergency situation in all the four provinces and said that politicians should focus on the flood victims instead of engaging in politics.

Police raid Shahbaz Gill’s room in Parliament Lodges; recover weapons, satellite phone

Islamabad Police raided incarcerated PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday and it recovered weapons, satellite phone, and foreign currency.

According to details available with the media house, the raid was carried out under the supervision of a senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Gill accompanied them there with police officials in handcuffs.

A pistol was recovered during the operation; however, Gill refused to take ownership of the weapon.

Apart from weapons, a mobile phone, satellite phone and USBs have also been recovered from the room. Moreover, his wallet, that was missing, has also been recovered in which two of his CNICs were also found. Along with all these two passports were also recovered.

Gill told journalists that he had no clue as to why is wallet was found in the room, claiming that he had left it in the car when he was taken into custody.

“My wallet was usually carried by my driver and the room from where the pistol has been recovered was in use of my guards,” he said.

Replying to the questions of the journalists, Gill confirmed PTI chief Imran Khan's claims regarding being sexually assaulted in police custody.

"Yes, I was sexually abused," said Gill in response to the question.

“I see some changes in my room, my passport wasn’t found at its usual place…this hints that somebody came here during the period of my custody,” he added.

Police then whisked Gill to the Punjab House. They also searched the room used by Shahbaz Gill there. But, they found none of his belongings there, said police sources.

Police said Gill's belongings had already been shifted to the Parliament lodges. Police also said a case of the pistol recovered from Gill's Parliament Lodges room is being registered at the Secretariat police station.

A red-coloured diary was also found in Shahbaz Gill's room. When the SSP asked him about it, Gill said he didn't know it. "It's not mine," said Gill.

The police official also asked Gill about the names of people who lived in the room. Izhar and Jabir lived here, he answered.

Sources said Gill's Parliament lodges room is allotted to Senator Abdul Qadir.

According to sources, the police raided the room to recover the script read by Gill on the private TV channel.

Earlier on Monday, a district and sessions court in Islamabad granted a two-day physical remand of Gill in a sedition case filed against him, after reviewing his medical report.

Imran Khan's chief of staff was presented before the court earlier shortly after being discharged from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny among public against the ranks and files of Pakistan Army by making some remarks during a TV programme.

IHC initiates hearing on contempt case against Imran Khan for threatening judge

A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken up contempt of court proceedings against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.

The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

The PTI chair had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture in custody. He warned the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general that he would “not spare” them, vowing to file cases against them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture.

Turning his guns towards the additional sessions judge, who sent Gill into physical remand on the police's request, Imran Khan had then said she [the judge] should brace herself for consequences.

This issue could be a threat for Khan, who has been campaigning for new elections since being forced to step down this year, since a conviction would disqualify him from standing for election, legal experts said.

The contempt issue is in addition to charges under an anti-terror law that police filed against Khan over what they said was a threat in his speech about Shahbaz Gill who faces sedition charges for inciting mutiny in the military.

The use of anti-terrorism laws as the grounds for cases against political leaders is not uncommon in Pakistan, where Khan’s government also used them against opponents and critics.

His political party, the PTI, has dismissed the accusations against Khan as being politically motivated, saying they were being used to block him from leading anti-government rallies.

Earlier today, Islamabad Advocate-General Jahangir Khan Jadoon filed a miscellaneous application in the IHC, seeking permission to submit the concerned record to court.

In his application, the advocate-general pleaded to the court that he wanted to submit the record of anti-judiciary remarks and speeches made by Imran Khan in the past.

“I want to put Imran Khan’s video clip on record,” said the applicant.

He pleaded with the court to allow the petitioner to play the video showing the anti-judiciary and anti-state institution remarks made by the PTI chairman in the past.

The applicant requested the IHC to allow the material to be played in the courtroom through USB or other digital means.

PM Shehbaz leaves for Doha on two-day official visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Doha on a two day official visit to Qatar on the invitation of Amir of state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

This is the Prime Minister's first visit to Qatar after assuming the office.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high level delegation including key members of the cabinet.

During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif will hold in-depth consultations with the Qatari leadership. The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with a particular focus on advancing energy related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar.

They will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister will also engage with leading Qatari and Pakistani business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs.

He will visit Stadium 974 in Doha, where he would be briefed on the extensive preparations undertaken by Qatari government to host FIFA World Cup.

FM Bilawal postpones European countries trip due to calamities caused by rains

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari postponed his official visits to four European countries in view of calamities across Pakistan caused by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and flooding, a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said.

The foreign minister was set to depart on a four country-trip including Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in a bid to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with Europe and share its perspective on regional and global issues from August 22-26.

According to the statement, Bilawal delayed his visits due to the heavy damages to lives and property caused by the torrential rains in the country.

The foreign minister is looking forward to his interactions with his counterparts, other dignitaries and media, as part of Pakistan’s continued engagement with Europe.

FM Bilawal's visits to these capitals will be rescheduled at mutually agreed later dates in consultation with the host governments, said the ministry.

Shells rain down on city near Ukraine’s N- plant

Artillery shells rained down on a city close to Europe’s biggest nuclear plant on Saturday night and Russian missiles hit targets near Odesa, a Ukrainian Black Sea port and a grain export hub, as the war headed for its six-month milestone on Aug 24.

The day will also mark 31 years of Ukraine’s independence from Soviet rule and President Volodymyr Zele­nskiy in a nightly video address called for vigilance, saying Moscow could try “something particularly ugly”.

As Ukraine prepared to mark its independence day embroiled in a war that has flattened towns and cities, killed thousands and forced millions to flee, military and regional officials reported more Russian strikes on targets in the east and south of the country.

Of particular concern was the shelling of Nikopol, a city which lies across the Dnipro river from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s and Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. It has been held by Russian forces since March.

Nikopol was shelled on five different occasions overnight, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on Telegram. He said 25 artillery shells hit the city, causing a fire at an industrial premises and cutting power to 3,000 residents.

The fighting in the proximity of Zaporizhzia and Saturday’s missile strike on the southern Ukrainian town of Voznesensk, which is not far from Ukraine’s second-largest atomic plant, has spurred fears of a nuclear accident.

Cruise missile strikes

Local authorities also reported overnight missile attacks in the Odesa region, home to Black Sea ports critical to a U.N.-brokered plan to help Ukrainian agricultural exports, key for global food supplies, reach world markets again.

Five Russian Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea at the region overnight, the regional administration spokesperson said, citing information from the southern military command. Two were shot down by Ukrainian air defences while three hit agricultural targets, but there were no casualties.

Russia said on Sunday the missiles had destroyed an ammunition depot containing missiles for U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, while Kyiv said a granary had been hit.

There were no fresh reports of incidents in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, after a series of explosions made headlines in recent weeks.

In his speech, Zelenskiy referred obliquely to the blasts, for which Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but analysts have said at least some have been made possible by new equipment used by its forces.

“You can literally feel Crimea in the air this year, that the occupation there is only temporary and that Ukraine is coming back,” Zelenskiy said.

In the latest incident, a drone attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet was thwarted on Saturday morning, according to a Telegram post by Mikhail Razvozhayev, Crimea’s Russian-appointed governor, who is not recognised by the West.

In a daily Facebook update, Ukraine’s general staff also reported several attempted Russian assaults over the past 24 hours in Donbas, the eastern region partially controlled by pro-Moscow separatists that has been a key target of Russia’s campaign in the past months.

In the south, Russian forces conducted a successful assault on the village of Blahodatne on the border between Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, it said.

The city of Mykolaiv was hit with multiple S-300 missiles early on Sunday, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said on Telegram.

16 dead after truck collision in Russia

At least 16 people died and another three were injured after a truck collided with a stationary minibus in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region.

According to international media, the driver of a heavy goods vehicle did not slow down in good time and hit a stationary minibus,” Ulyanovsk’s interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Roadworks at the scene of the accident meant the minibus was waiting in a queue to move. “The minibus was wedged between two lorries,” the ministry said.

Video footage broadcast by the police showed the crumpled husk of what appeared to be the minibus sandwiched between two trucks and emergency service workers inspecting the flattened vehicle.

Russia’s investigative committee opened a criminal investigation, the truck driver was among those killed.

Three other people, two men and a woman, were taken to hospital in a serious condition, Ulyanovsk Governor Alexei Russkikh wrote on Telegram.

As per media reports, Violations of road safety regulations are common in Russia, where several deadly bus accidents have occurred in recent years.

In January, five people were killed and 21 injured in a bus crash in the Ryazan region, 270km (170 miles) south of Moscow.

In December 2019, a bus with 40 passengers on board plunged into a frozen river in the Zabaikalsk region of Siberia, killing 19 people and injuring 21.

CM Punjab orders to take action over exhibiting arms

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Sunday ordered to take indiscriminate action against the elements exhibiting arms across Punjab.

The Punjab Chief Minister directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure strict compliance with the law prohibiting the exhibition of arms. Elahi called for legal action against those involved in the arms exhibition, irrespective of their political affiliation.

Elahi said that every moment is golden and his government will do everything for the welfare of the people of Punjab. Criticizing the performance of PML-N in Punjab, he said that he started working from where he left off.

The people of Gujrat will welcome Imran Khan with an overwhelming response in a public gathering on September 2, Pervaiz Elahi added.

FM Bilawal postpones four-country trip due to calamities caused by rains

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto postponed his official visits to European countries in view of calamities across Pakistan caused by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and flooding, a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

The foreign minister was set to depart on a four country-trip including Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in a bid to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with Europe and share its perspective on regional and global issues from August 22-26.

According to the statement, Bilawal delayed his visits due to the heavy damages to lives and property caused by the torrential rains in the country.

The foreign minister is looking forward to his interactions with his counterparts, other dignitaries and media, as part of Pakistan’s continued engagement with Europe.

FM Bilawal's visits to these capitals will be rescheduled at mutually agreed later dates in consultation with the host governments, said the ministry.

North Korea imported Chinese masks before declaring Covid victory

North Korea imported more than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over Covid-19, Chinese trade showed on Saturday.

Pyongyang last week declared victory over the coronavirus, ending a little-detailed fight against “fever” cases that had risen to 4.77 million. It has registered no new such cases since July 29.

Still, China exported 1.23 million facial masks to North Korea in July, worth $44,307, surging from 17,000 the previous month, according to data released by Chinese customs.

From January to July, the last month for which data is available, the North bought more than 11.93 million masks from China, data showed.

North Korea did not import any Covid-19 prevention and control products from China in May, the data showed.

China’s overall exports to North Korea surged to $59.74 million in July from $19.05 million in June.

Top exports were semi- or wholly milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of natural rubber.

North Korea bought $5.16 million worth of semi or wholly milled rice, $1.98 million of soybean oil & fractions, $1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, the Chinese customs data showed.

China suspended cross-border freight train services with North Korea following consultations due to Covid-19 infections in its border city of Dandong, China’s foreign ministry said on April 29.

Russian crops, fertiliser must move ‘unimpeded’, says UN chief

Russian fertilisers and agricultural products must be able reach world markets “unimpeded” or a global food crisis could strike as early as next year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday.

“It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market,” he said from the Joint Coordination Center (JCC).

The JCC oversees the implementation of the Ukrainian grain export agreement signed in July by Kyiv and Moscow with the UN and Turkey as guarantors.

The agreement also guarantees Russia the right to export its agricultural products and fertilisers despite Western sanctions.

“What we see here in Istanbul and in Odessa is only the more visible part of the solution. The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to the global markets of Russian food and fertiliser, which are not subject to sanctions,” Guterres said, adding that despite this, Russian fertiliser and agricultural exports still faced “obstacles.”

“Without fertiliser in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023. Getting more food and fertiliser out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers,” he said.

Guterres travelled this week to Ukraine, where he met with the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey, Volodymyr Zelensky and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the western city of Lviv on Thursday. He headed to the southern city of Odessa on Friday.

Earlier on Saturday, he visited the first aid ship chartered by the United Nations to transport Ukrainian grain on the southern shores of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara.

The Brave Commander left the Ukrainian port of Pivdenny on Tuesday with 23,000 tonnes of wheat before crossing the Bosphorus on Wednesday evening.

The UN chief vowed Thursday that his organisation would try to “step up” grain exports from Ukraine before the onset of winter, which are crucial for food supplies in many African countries.

Under the agreement signed in July, 650,000 tons of Ukrainian grain and agricultural products have left the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny since August 1.

Ships must use a safe corridor to travel in the Black Sea and then be inspected by the JCC before being allowed to cross the Bosphorus Strait. Cereal exports from Ukraine, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters, were blocked for several months due to the Russian invasion, raising fears of a global food crisis.

Flood kills 5 in Chitral

At least five people were dead after flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Chitral, it emerged on Saturday.

As per media reports, seven people, including a woman, were swept away by the flash flood in different areas of Chitral on Friday.

After being informed, the rescue officials launched a search operation and recovered five bodies, said the sources. The search operation is underway to recover the other two, they added.

In its daily weather report, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday said that monsoon currents are still penetrating in most parts of the country.

A westerly wave is also affecting western and upper parts of the country, it added.

The Met Office said that rain coupled with thundershower is expected in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Heavy falls are also likely at isolated places in Balochistan, Punjab, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Upper Sindh today, it added.

 

Action against PML-N lawmakers in Punjab ‘revenge’ for proceedings against Shahbaz Gill: Tarar

PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar decried on Saturday the Punjab police’s move to raid the residences of his party’s lawmakers and register cases against them as an act of “revenge” for legal proceedings initiated against PTI’s Shahbaz Gill over his controversial remarks.

Tarar, who was speaking to the media alongside other PML-N leaders in Islamabad, said the raids were carried out on the instructions of the Punjab government — where an alliance of the PTI and PML-Q is at the helm — and warned Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s government that they “will face the consequences of the trend of revenge they had set”.

“Parvez Elahi sahib, you and your son (Moonis Elahi) will face the consequences of this new trend that you have set,” Tarar reiterated, claiming that Moonis had been issuing instructions for action against PML-N leaders despite not having any official authority.

The PML-N leader’s criticism of the Punjab government comes hours after police raids at the residences of at least a dozen PML-N leaders in the province for their arrest over their alleged involvement in the violence witnessed in the Punjab Assembly during the chief minister’s election on April 16.

However, the lawmakers had managed to evade police and flee to Islamabad, where the PML-N is at the helm of affairs.

The ‘wanted’ PML-N MPAs, apart from Tarar, include his brother Bilal Tarar, the party’s Punjab Secretary General Sardar Awais Leghari, Rana Mashhood, Maryam Nawaz’s close aide Saiful Malook Khokhar, Mirza Javed, Abdur Rauf, Pir Ashraf Rasool, Pir Khizar Hayat Khagga, Raja Sagheer Ahmad, Bilal Farooq, and Rana Manan.

During his media talk today, Tarar, whose house was raided in connection with the April 16 episode for the second time on Friday night, maintained that while PML-N lawmakers were being booked for the provincial assembly attack case, “Parvez Elahi and his companions” were the “actual suspects”.

The PML-N leader also alleged that during last night’s raids, police had “stolen” valuables from the MPAs’ residences.

He also linked the action against his party’s members to the “promotion of an anti-state narrative”, alluding to Gill’s controversial remarks.

Tarar alleged that CM Elahi had “fully facilitated Imran Khan in promoting this anti-state narrative”, adding that Elahi was “at the forefront of exacting revenge from us”.

He went on to claim that Elahi and Moonis had directed jail officials not to hand over Gill to Islamabad police even when the court had approved his remand in police custody.

They had been defying court orders, the PML-N leader added.

Coming back to the action taken against PML-N lawmakers, he said a case should have actually been registered for the beating and torture inflicted on then-PA deputy speaker Dost Mazari during the April 16 session.

“It all started when people pulled the deputy speaker’s hair and subjected him to violence. Are you ready to get arrested?” he questioned, addressing Elahi.

“If any PML-N member is arrested, all of you would also be arrested because you started the violence,” he warned.

He demanded that the CM present proof to corroborate his claim that he was also subjected to violence in the episode, adding that the entire nation had witnessed that the deputy speaker was beaten.

Tarar said the cases registered against PML-N lawmakers in connection with the April 16 session were “fake”.

“What are you avenging?” he questioned, adding that the action taken against the PTI’s members and supporters during the May 25 Azadi March was the government’s “job” and “responsibility”.

“What you were doing was illegal. You tried to create anarchy … It was our responsibility to stop anarchy,” he said.

The PML-N leader vowed to fight the Punjab government’s “fascism and revenge” with determination. “We will take the legal course,” he said, adding that the cases against PML-N MPAs were “fake” and “baseless”.

Tarar also commented that Elahi’s government was being run through a “remote control from Banigala”, a reference to PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence.

PML-N’s Rana Mashhood, who was also present on the occasion, said “a mockery shouldn’t be made out of assemblies” and called for an end to the “politics of laadlas (blue-eyed boys)” — a term PML-N uses for Imran.

He also said the PML-N lawmakers would fight the “daaku raj” (regime of goons) in Punjab and bring it to an end.

2 terrorists killed in gun battle with security forces in North Waziristan: ISPR

Two terrorists were killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan tribal district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Saturday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the IBO, an intense fire exchange took place between the army troops and terrorists.

“Resultantly, two terrorists got killed, including Commander Khabaib Alias Bilal of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group.”

The ISPR said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the site, elaborating that terrorists remained actively involved in terror activities against security forces, preparation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and killing of innocent citizens.

“Terrorist Commander Khabaib was also involved in a suicide attack on security forces convoy in Mir Ali in August 2022,” the statement added.

 

Shahbaz Gill 'faking it', 'no abuse of any kind occurred': Interior Minister

Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan's aide Shahbaz Gill was "not subjected to abuse of any kind" during his detention and that he is "just faking it".

Gill has been in police custody since August 9 when the Islamabad police arrested him in a sedition case after he passed controversial remarks on a private news channel.

According to the Islamabad police spokesperson, he was booked on charges of sedition and inciting members of state institutions against the Pakistan Army.

"No abuse of any kind occurred. Shahbaz Gill is just faking it. He was not tortured," the minister said.

"Imran Khan is lying, as always, that Gill was sexually abused," he said.

The interior minister asked Imran Khan to file an application against "the one involved", if he believes a crime was committed.

He warned PTI leaders of legal action if they try to barge into the Red Zone or PIMS Hospital.

The PML-N leader said the PTI chief knows that the verdict of the Toshakhana and foreign funding case is about to come "therefore, he is peddling false propaganda".

Meanwhile, a police inquiry was instituted to investigate the torture allegations.

According to sources, the IG Islamabad is leading the inquiry and has been ordered by the Islamabad High Court to submit a report.

The sources said DIG Headquarters Islamabad chaired an important meeting with top police officials and the investigation team. The probe team briefed the high-ups about judicial proceedings.

The police have also started recording statements to probe the torture allegations. Statements were taken from doctors on Gill's health condition.

The sources further said that the diet of the PTI leader will be fully monitored.

According to sources in jail, it was learnt that Gill complained of difficulty in breathing and poor health due to the alleged torture after which he was shifted to the jail hospital for a checkup. However, when his condition reportedly appeared to have deteriorated, it was decided that he will be shifted to a hospital for a complete medical checkup.

On August 17, Gill was shifted to the PIMS hospital's Cardiac Centre late in the night. A three-member board of doctors took his multiple tests, including blood tests, ECG and coronavirus test.

On August 18, the PIMS hospital's board released Gill's medical report that declared him absolutely fit and healthy. All his tests were clear, according to the report.

On August 19, he was shifted to an Islamabad district and sessions court from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in a wheelchair. While he was being hustled from the ambulance to the court, Gill appeared to burst into tears.

Despite the Islamabad police's demand for an extension of Gill's physical remand in a sedition case, the district and sessions court judge ordered him sent back to the Cardiac Centre of the PIMS for a reassessment of his health.

"Shahbaz Gill's condition is not fine," the court remarked while announcing the verdict reserved by duty judge Judicial Magistrate Raja Farrukh Ali Khan.

A couple of videos of Gill crying and complaining of difficulty breathing went viral on social media. At the court premises, he was provided with an oxygen cylinder.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan decided to visit Gill at the medical facility in the federal capital. However, he was denied access to his chief of staff.

Later, the PTI chief announced rallies countrywide to express solidarity with his chief of staff, claiming that he faced "sexual abuse" in police custody.

In a series of tweets, Imran demanded justice for Gill. "All the pictures and videos show clearly Gill was tortured both mentally and physically, including sexual abuse — most too gruesome to relate," the PTI chairman said.

The PTI chairman claimed the police humiliated Gill and that he now has detailed information about the events regarding Gill's "torture".

"ICT police says it did not inflict any torture. So my question is: Who tortured Gill?" Khan asked.

The PTI chairman added that there is a general perception in the public at large and in "our minds too as to who could have carried out the gruesome torture".

"Remember the public will react. We will leave no stone unturned to find out those responsible and bring them to justice," he added.

Tow WAPDA employees 'kidnapped' in Sadiqabad

Two Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) employees have ‘kidnapped’ on Friday by unknown men in Sadiqabad, Punjab.

According to the local police, the WAPDA employees went to restore electricity on the complaint in Nawazabad. They were reportedly kidnapped after they were returning to Mahi Chowk.

According to media reports, police said that teams have been set up and they are trying to trace the location of the WAPDA employees.

This is not the first incident of kidnapping of WAPDA employees, few years earlier, a Wapda worker was abducted by unknown armed persons in the precincts of Dera Sarki PS, Kandhkot.

According to details, Nizam Din Khoso, incharge Karampur Gird Station, resident of Tangwani Taluka was returning from his duty late night on his bike when he reached near Sokar Stop, suddenly unidentified armed men intercepted him kidnapped him at gunpoint.

Information Minister terms Imran’s tenure as dark chapter of Pakistan's media history

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says media faced unprecedented gags during last regime of Imran Khan and now he is misleading the nation in the name media freedom.

Talking to media in Islamabad on Thursday, she said journalists' organizations condemned actions of Imran Khan's government against media. She said these organizations termed Imran Khan as press freedom predator.

She said journalists like Absar Alam, Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Nusrat Javed, Ghareeda Farooqui, Asma Shirazi, Amber Shamsi, Talat Hussain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Najam Sethi, Murtaza Solangi and Dr. Danish were banned during PTI's government.

The Minister said PTI government tried to introduce a black law 'Media Regulatory Authority' to curb the freedom of speech.

She said PTI government used National Accountability Bureau for political victimization.

She said Imran Khan should present himself in Election Commission of Pakistan in foreign funding case.