FBR unblocks PIA’s bank accounts

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday unblocked bank accounts of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after matters over non-payment of dues were settled between the two national entities, ARY News reported.

The national tax collection body had blocked PIA’s bank accounts over non-payment of taxes amid an ‘all-important’ audit from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

However, the bank accounts were unblocked after the national flag carrier assured the tax collection body of clearing all pending dues and submitted written assurance.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is grappling with a severe financial crisis, raising concerns about its ability to sustain air operations amidst mounting debts.

A delegation of the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently in Pakistan, raising hopes that a ban imposed on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the continent may be lifted.

The ban was imposed after May 2020 plane crash in Karachi and a statement made by the then aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, in the parliament, telling the house that a large number of commercial pilots held fake licences or had cheated in exams.

The national carrier has suffered massive losses since restrictions were imposed on the national airliner.

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Bugti assures IHC of recovery of missing Baloch students

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday appeared before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a case related to missing Baloch students, ARY News reported. 

On the last hearing, the IHC summoned caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Sarfraz Bugti in the missing Baloch students case.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani presided over the hearing, where Attorney General Mansoor Awan told the court that caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar could not appear on account of being outside the country for an official visit.

The attorney general told the court that a total of 69 Baloch students had been missing of whom 22 more had been recovered since the last hearing.

He said that 28 students are still missing and the government will try to recover all of them.

Awan also said that a cabinet committee has been set up where the commission on missing person reports will be submitted. Justice Kiyani remarked this is a matter of basic human rights.

All missing persons are Pakistani residents, whose blame is being put on the government institutions, the IHC Justice remarked and added the administration formally takes action under section 365 on the cases of missing Balochs.

Read more: IHC releases written order of Baloch missing students’ case hearing

When the missing Baloch students will be recovered, Justice Kiyani asked Bugti.”If we go missing, only then will we discover what really happened,” the judge remarked.

Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti in his reply to the court said there is no justification if a single people remain missing.

Bugti claimed few people named on the missing persons list fled Afghanistan and the commission is reviewing the matter. He assured that the government will ensure the recovery of missing Baloch students.

The Islamabad High Court directed the authorities concerned to meet with the families of the missing persons.

Later the hearing was adjourned until January 10.

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Suspects abandon body of minor boy at Karachi Hospital

KARACHI: Individuals in a vehicle abandoned the lifeless body of a minor boy outside the emergency department of Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, ARY News reported.

According to the eyewitnesses, there were two individuals in the car, who allegedly left the body of a six-year-old boy outside the emergency department of Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital.

The driver, while escaping from the scene, also ran over the security guard of the hospital in nervousness.

Meanwhile, the assault marks on the face of the child are clearly visible, however, after receiving the information about the incident, the local police reached the spot for investigation.

The CCTV footage will also be examined by the police to apprehend the suspects.

Earlier in June this year, the images of individuals abandoning a girl’s body at Jinnah Hospital have emerged.

A CCTV footage from the Karachi’s Jinnah hospital was emerged after which the investigation authorities obtained images of the girl and boy – identified as Jibran and Sehrish – who abandoned a teenager girl’s body at the hospital and flee.

In the CCTV footage, Jibran and Sehrish can be seen arrived outside the emergency of Jinnah Hospital at 7:28 AM in a white car. The police stated that upon initial examination by doctors, it was discovered that the girl had already been dead.

Police sources have stated that further details may be revealed after the medical examination of the body. However, the police have initiated a search for the fugitives.

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Two female student injured in Multan college bus firing incident

LAHORE: At least two female students sustained bullet injuries after armed individuals on a car opened fire on a college bus near Multan Road, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

As per police officials, multiple individuals on a car opened fire on a college bus, after which two female students named Ayesha and Nimra got injured.

The injured students were shifted to General Hospital, meanwhile, on the complaint of Ayesha’s brother the police officials have registered the case of the incident.

In July this year, two persons were killed in a car firing incident that took place in Lahore’s Mughalpura area.

Police said that a car firing incident took place in Lahore’s Mughalpura area in which two persons were killed. The slain persons were identified as Imran and Guddu.

Police added that the slain persons were having a property dispute with their brother-in-law. Police claimed that the brother-in-law along with his accomplice opened fire at the vehicle and fled from the scene.

Police launched a thorough investigation into the firing incident.

In September last year, the Quetta car firing incident had a drop scene as the brother turned out to be the murderer of his three siblings over personal and property disputes.

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Committee forms to investigate Karachi mall fire

Following the directives caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Commissioner Karachi formed a technical committee to determine the cause of the massive fire inside RJ Shopping Mall at Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road, ARY News reported on Monday.

The technical committee established under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner East, Altaf Sheikh, will investigate the possible reasons and factors which erupted the fire in the building and analyse the response time from the rescue department.

The committee will determine the responsibility of the negligent officers, departments, as well as private individuals and will suggest measures to prevent these types of incidents in the future.

The team will submit the report within seven days.

READ: 11 die as fire engulfs shopping mall on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road

Earlier to this development, the K-Electric (KE), builders and other departments were named in a first information report (FIR) registered after nearly a dozen people were killed in a massive fire inside RJ Shopping Mall at Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road.

At least 11 people died while five others sustained burn injuries after a fire erupted inside the RJ Shopping Mall a day earlier because of a suspected short circuit, as per the officials.

The fire began on the fourth floor and later engulfed other floors. The officials claimed that the deaths occurred because the building had no ventilation.

The FIR was registered at Sharae Faisal Police Station by Sub Inspector Sadaruddin Mirani.

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IMF tax experts’ team reaches Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday reached Pakistan to consult over tax net and to enhance tax revenue, citing sources ARY News reported.

Sources said that the technical experts’ delegation will hold consultations with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over the taxation policy for about one week.

The delegation will suggest measures to the FBR for amendments in the tax policy, sources said. “Introducing amendments in the tax policy aimed at expanding the tax net and collecting maximum tax,” sources said.

According to sources, the FBR and the IMF experts will jointly prepare the basic structure for introducing the scheme to retailers.

“One million more taxpayers will be added to the tax net to enhance the number of taxpayers to six million,” sources said.

“The IMF technical team and the FBR will jointly prepare amendments in the tax policy, which will come into force by the next budget,” according to sources. It was further learnt that the talks on the tax net will not affect the transfer of the loan tranche.

Read more: ‘Pakistan to get $1.5b quick financial assistance after IMF board approval’

Earlier it emerged that the the IMF executive board is likely to approve the staff-level agreement with Pakistan on December 07.

The IMF executive board meeting will likely be held on December 7 and is expected to consider Pakistan’s case in the meeting.

Sources said that after the approval from IMF’s Executive Board around US$700 million will be available to Pakistan, bringing total disbursements under the program to almost US$1.9 billion.

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Myanmar armed group seizes China-Myanmar border crossing

BANGKOK: An ethnic minority armed group in Myanmar has seized control from the country’s ruling junta of a lucrative border crossing to China, local media and a security source said Sunday.

Clashes have raged across Myanmar’s northern Shan state, close to the Chinese border, after an armed alliance of three ethnic minority groups launched an offensive against the military in October.

The groups have seized dozens of military positions and a town important for trade with China, choking commerce routes for the cash-strapped junta.

An offensive by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) — one of the three allied groups — captured the Kyin San Kyawt border gate, a local media outlet affiliated with the group said.

“MNDAA also reported they seized one more border trade gate, which is called Kyin San Kyawt, in Mongko area, Muse district this morning,” the Kokang news reported Sunday.

It added that the alliance — including the Arakan Army (AA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) — had taken other positions in the border trade zone after the assault began on Friday.

MNDAA had raised its flag at the border trade zone at Kyin San Kyawt, a security source told AFP.

The gate was re-opened in 2022 after the pandemic, and is a major trading point along the Myanmar-China border.

Earlier in the week, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told state media that roughly 120 trucks, parked near the border crossing, had gone up in flames and blamed armed groups.

The uptick in fighting has battered Myanmar’s already struggling economy, damaging vital cross-border commerce and denying the military much-needed taxes and foreign exchange.

Local reports say goods that pass through the Kyin San Kyawt crossing include machinery, electrical appliances, agricultural tractors and consumer items.

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Two months before no-trust motion, we settled all with PML-N: Raja Riaz

ISLAMABAD: “We had settled all with the PML-N, two months before the no-confidence motion,” former opposition leader Raja Riaz said in an interview with the ARY News on Saturday.

He was talking about the no-trust motion in the National Assembly last year, the passage of which removed the PTI chairman from the prime minister’s office.

“We were in talks with Shehbaz Sharif, which were later conveyed to Nawaz Sharif on phone,” Riaz said. “There was no guarantor, we and they are committed to what was decided before the no-trust motion,” he said.

“I am grateful to Shehbaz Sharif, he has fulfilled, what he committed to anyone,” Raja Riaz said.

“Eight members of our group want to move to some other party instead of the PML-N,” he said.

“We were determined to push the PTI chairman, out of the PM office,” he said.

“We had come to know that we would be picked from the Parliament Lodges, thus we moved to the Sindh House,” replying a question Riaz said.

“What the PTI chairman said, was not complied, it means they had withdrawn from him,” Raja Riaz said. “When we were not allowed to be picked, it was hint that the no-confidence motion will become successful,” he said.

Raja Riaz, who has now joined the PML-N, has said that the lobbying being conducted only for Nawaz Sharif to become the prime minister. “PML-N going to sweep in Punjab, there is no matching rival of the party”.

“PTI chairman was not respecting us, his secretary even not taking our phones. Azam Khan has now become an approver against him, earlier he was a Pharaoh,” Riaz said. “PTI chairman had not courage to ring the bell to summon him.”

“We had burnt boats and were ready to cast vote and be declared disqualified. We were present in the house, but Shehbaz Sharif prevented us from casting vote,” he said.

Replying a question over opposing statements of Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, Raja Riaz said these statements should not be taken ‘serious’. “One is igniting fire, while other extinguishing it”, he commented. “Zardari is a seasoned politician, while Bilawal is still learning,” he said.

“The PTI has been in dire straits and lacking candidates for election, while there is scarce time for new candidates,” Raja Riaz said.

“I am not seeing the Istehkam Pakistan Party voters and can only pray for them,” he further said.

He stressed for formation of a national government with “all stakeholders on same page and part of the government.”

“The PTI, except terrorists, could also become a part of the national government,” he added.

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‘Wish we had 300 runs’ – Mohammed Shami reflects on World Cup final loss against Australia

The star Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami recently opened up about the team’s poor performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 final against Australia, stating that they were short of runs with the bat.

The fast bowler, Mohammad Shami, stated that if the team had scored 300 runs while batting first then the Indian bowlers have easily defended the total.

Notably, the Indian team managed only 240 runs in 50 overs after being put in to bat first by Australia, meanwhile, the score was easily chased down by the kangaroos in the 43 over and claimed the sixth World Cup title.

“We didn’t have as many runs. Wish we had 300 runs, then we could have easily defended. But I don’t think it is right to blame any one particular thing. It is important to look at where we stand as a team. It is important to work as a unit. But I’ll say one thing that maybe, we fell short on runs,” Shami said during an interview with Indian media.

While India ended their World Cup campaign as a losing side, Mohammad Shami finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker bowler and also holds the record for most fifers in the ODI World Cup history.

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DSP Umair Tariq sent jail on judicial remand in Orangi Town heist case

KARACHI: In the high-profile Orangi Town robbery case, the court sent the prime suspect, an under-training Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Umair Tariq Bajari, to jail on judicial remand, ARY News reported on Friday.

According to the details, the prime suspect DSP along with three police officers named in the FIR was presented before Karachi’s city court.

After hearing the argument from both sides, the magistrate sent DSP Umair Tariq to jail on judicial remand, while the other three police officers were handed over to the police for two days of physical remand.

It is pertinent to mention here that an under-training DSP Umair Tariq Bajari and two Shaheen Force officials have been booked in Karachi’s Orangi Town dacoity case.

The cops were declared guilty in a high-level police probe.

READ: More revelations made about DSP Umair Bajari’s ‘illegal raids’

DSP Umair Tariq Bajari, Khurram and Farman along with 20 others were booked in the Orangi Town heist case under charges of dacoity and kidnapping on the complaint of Shakir Khan, the affected man.

According to FIR, Shakir Khan said he is doing wholesale business of sanitary items in Orangi Town. On November 19, around 20 cops in uniform and civil dress raided his house around 2:20 am.

The cops after taking the family members hostage and took away Rs20 million along with 70 to 80 tola gold, laptops and mobile phones.

The FIR further stated that the cops after making him and his brother Aamir hostage along with the cash, gold and other valuables left them near Baloch Pull and fled.

Later, SHO Defence police station returned Rs10.3 million, 50 tola gold, and 12 mobile phones to them, Shakir Khan said in his complaint.

He has urged the higher authorities to take stern action against DSP Bajari and other staff.

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SBP governor getting higher salary than lawmakers, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: A rumpus was witnessed in the Senate when members of the Upper House raised the matter that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor is getting a salary of Rs4 mln/month, ARY News reported.  

The Senate resumed its session with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair on Friday. During the question hour, Senators said it has been revealed that the SBP governor, who is a grade-8 employee, is getting Rs4 mln monthly salary.

We are getting a monthly salary of Rs160,000 and a grade 8 employee of the SBP is getting Rs4 a monthly salary, the Senators asked.

Caretaker finance minister Shamshad Akhtar responding to the concern said salaries in the private banking sector have gone up a lot.

“Salaries in State Bank are higher than Finance Ministry and Senate,” Shamshad Akhtar admits. The salary structure of the central bank is different from others across the world, she added.

Read more: ECC approves projected salary of first 6 months of PSM

Ms. Akhtar said SBP gave a policy to increase salaries if pension rule was being abolished.

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said Senate the rates of electricity and gas are being increased at the request of the IMF while on the other hand, the ‘royal’ expenses of the government are not reducing.

“Classes have also been created in Elite,” the senator argued.

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Salman Khan reacts to ‘Tiger 3’ success

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan speaks up on the success of his latest release ‘Tiger 3’, as the title enters the 400-crore club.

Watch ARY News live on live.arynews.tv

On day 12 of its release, Salman Khan’s latest Diwali offering, ‘Tiger 3’ crossed the INR250 crore mark in its domestic Box Office collection and entered the coveted 400-crore club worldwide.

 

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A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf)

Speaking about these mega numbers and the success of the spy thriller in a recent post-release promotional outing, Khan said that he is ‘happy and grateful’ to everyone for showing interest in the film during Diwali festivities and the ICC Men’s World Cup in India, but maintained that he never ‘let success hit his head’.

“It was Diwali time and the World Cup was going on and everyone’s interest was in that but despite that the numbers that we have received are wonderful,” he said. “We’re very grateful and happy about it.”

#WATCH | On his film Tiger 3, actor Salman Khan says, ” It was Diwali time and the World Cup was going on and everyone’s interest was in that but despite that the numbers that we have received are wonderful…we’re very grateful and happy about it” (23/11) pic.twitter.com/47HtERfPGp

— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2023

Khan added, “It is quite amazing that two of my most loved characters Prem and Tiger have entertained people so much on Diwali! As an actor, I have only looked to create memories for people through my brand of cinema and I’m fortunate that they have loved me back.”

The third in the ‘Tiger’ franchise and fifth instalment in YRF’s spy universe, ‘Tiger 3’, starring superhit Bollywood pair Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, along with Emraan Hashmi as the main antagonist, was released theatrically across the country on November 12, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Diwali.

‘Tiger 3’ release: Police file case, arrest two Salman Khan fans

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Karachi’s Safari Park to get zipline soon

Karachi Mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab has announced that KMC is bringing zipline adventure to the newly renovated Safari Park.

In a post on X, the mayor wrote: “Zipline adventure now in Karachi at Safari Park where weight resistance tests are underway & will soon be opened up for the public.”

Zipline adventure now in Karachi at Safari Park. Weight resistance tests are underway & will soon be opened up for public pic.twitter.com/rMYqkxApgK

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) November 23, 2023

Earlier this year in August, Mayor Karachi inaugurated the newly-developed dinosaur park in Safari Park. The mayor has mentioned that the zip line project will soon be made operational in the park.

Read More: Karachi to get first-ever zip line

It is pertinent to mention here that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had announced last year to launch zipline at Karachi’s Bagh Ibne Qasim situated near the city’s Clifton coastline.

This was announced by then City Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who is now serving as mayor Karachi. The zipline is yet to be installed at Bagh Ibne Qasim.

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IMF tax experts’ team to visit Pakistan next week

ISLAMABAD: A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Pakistan next week to consult over tax net and to enhance tax revenue, citing sources ARY News reported on Thursday.

Sources said that the technical experts’ delegation will hold consultations with the FBR over the taxation policy for about one week.

The delegation will suggest measures to the FBR for amendments in the tax policy, sources said. “Introducing amendments in the tax policy aimed at expanding the tax net and collecting maximum tax,” sources said.

According to sources, the FBR and the IMF experts will jointly prepare the basic structure for introducing scheme for retailers.

“One million more taxpayers will be added in the tax net to enhance the number of taxpayers to six million,” sources said.

“The IMF technical team and the FBR will jointly prepare amendments in the tax policy, which will come into force by the next budget,” according to sources.

Sources said that the technical experts delegation will assist to improve the tax policy and its enforcement.

The team of IMF experts will stay in Pakistan for one week, sources said. “This IMF team has nothing to do with the ongoing loan programme and the loan installment”, sources added.

The IMF executive board likely to approve the staff-level agreement with Pakistan on December 07, ARY News earlier reported citing sources.

The IMF executive board meeting will likely be held on December 7 and is expected to consider Pakistan’s case in the meeting.

Sources said that after the approval from IMF’s Executive Board around US$700 million will be available to Pakistan, bringing total disbursements under the program to almost US$1.9 billion.

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Shaukat Yousafzai offloaded from Saudi Arabia-bound flight

PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister and PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai was offloaded at Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar۔

According to the details, Shaukat Yousafzai was barred from flying to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar over ‘unknown’ reasons.

The former minister in his video message said despite clearance from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other institutions, he was offloaded.

Shaukat Yousafzai questioned why he was not stopped during the clearance process and added he was unaware of who had offloaded him and why he was kept at the airport.

The PTI leader said neither his name is on ECL nor any FIR is registered against him and added that he always respected state institutions and done politics within democratic norms.

Read more: PTI MNA Saima Nadeem offloaded from Canada-bound fight

Yousafzai said his boarding pass was also confiscated as he was going to Saudi Arabia for a week to perform Umrah.

Born on February 1, 1963, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai is a Pakistani politician who was a member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from October 2018 till January 2023.

He also served as a member of the 10th Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and as minister for health and information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Pervez Khattak administration.

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Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal appointed bowling coaches of Pakistan team

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday appointed former pacer Umar Gul and spin wizard Saeed Ajmal as bowling coaches of the Pakistan cricket team.

According to the PCB, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal’s inaugural assignments in these roles include the Test series against Australia scheduled from 14 December 2023 to 7 January 2024 and the T20I series against New Zealand from 12 to 21 January 2024.

Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been appointed as the Fast Bowling and Spin Bowling Coaches, respectively, for the Pakistan Men’s Team

Read more https://t.co/0rPdPWlvGm pic.twitter.com/FB4sak7sFW

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 21, 2023

The appointment follows as South African former speedster Morne Morkel resigned as Pakistan’s bowling coach after the dismal performance of the Boys in Green in the ICC World Cup 2023. The PCB is making changes in the board and the team after Babar Azam’s resignation as captain of all formats.

Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir have been assigned important designation in the PCB.

Umar Gul previously served as the bowling coach for the Pakistan Men’s Team during the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, and the subsequent series against New Zealand at home.

Read more: PCB announces new captains for T20I, Test

Umar Gul made his international debut in 2003, representing Pakistan in 47 Tests (163 wickets at 34.06), 130 ODIs (179 wickets at 29.34), and 60 T20Is (85 wickets at 16.97) between 2003 and 2016.

Former world no. 1 ODI bowler Saeed Ajmal will take charge as the Spin Bowling Coach. Saeed, who made his international debut in 2008, represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20Is, picking up 447 wickets across the three formats.

It is to be noted that both Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul were members of the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2012 Asia Cup winning squad.

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Stent case: LHC orders govt to submit report within a week

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the provincial government to submit a reply to a plea seeking action against the responsible in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) expired stents case.

LHC Justice Raheel Kamran took up the plea of Rana Sikandar advocate seeking action against those responsible for the expired stents case scandal.

At the outset of the hearing, the counsel of the caretaker Punjab government sought time to submit the reply in the case, which was okayed by the LHC bench.

The high court directed the Punjab government to submit its response to the expired stents case within a week.

Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report ​ revealed 38 patients were inserted as many as 39 expired stents at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), last year.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) preliminary report on the use of expired stents stated that 500 stents were bought from a private company in 2019.

Read more: CARDIAC PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED ‘EXPIRED’ STENTS TO BE EXAMINED

The acquired stents were supposed to be inserted in 2020 but they were to be inserted into the patients even after 19 months of their expiry date.

The report revealed that despite the availability of stents, the PIC kept on demanding the same from other hospitals showing the element of malice in the case as evidence, the report read.

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Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi challenges SJC inquiry in Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi on Monday challenged Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) inquiry launched against him over alleged misconduct and assets beyond means, ARY News reported.

The top court judge challenged the SJC inquiry in the Supreme Court.

“The campaign against me is an attack on the judiciary,” Justice Mazahar Naqvi said.

He said SJC sent notice of further proceedings without fixing the objections and SJC’s October 27 press release is a “violation” of fundamental rights.

He pleaded with the apex court to issue an order against the SJC inquiry launched against him.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is likely to review Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi’s response to a complaint filed against him in the forum, on November 20.

CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa will head the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) meeting. The meeting will likely be held on November 20 at the Supreme Court building.

The SJC meeting will discuss the complaints against Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi and Justice Sardar Tariq.

It is pertinent to mention here that the complaint was filed against Supreme Court Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi in the Supreme Judicial Council.

The complaint was filed against the apex court judge in the judicial council, by Mian Dawood Advocate.

Read more: SJC issues show cause notice to Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi

The complaint included charges of misconduct, illegal assets and amassing money with frontmen. The complainant has pleaded to the judicial council to remove Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi from the august office of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In April, Justice Isa and Justice Masood had written a judicial letter to Justice Bandial, then the CJP, to convene a SJC meeting to review these allegations.

In May, Justice Bandial referred the matter to Justice Tariq Masood for a legal opinion.

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Pilot captures incredible video of red and green aurora

A pilot captured an incredible natural phenomenon and took to social media while cruising through the night sky.

The clip he recorded of a red and green aurora was shared on the pictures and video-sharing platform, Instagram, where the video immediately went viral.

The pilot, named Thomas expressed that the scene was the most intense Aurora Borealis he had ever seen!

“The most intense Aurora Borealis I have ever seen! Absolutely stunning Aurora Borealis last night. Vibrant, bright curtains of green and red ionised atmosphere. So intense, it was even visible from the Netherlands, a very rare sight,” he wrote.

Take a look at this incredible video of the aurora:

 

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A post shared by Thomas (@pilot_astro)

The video was shared a few days ago. Since then, it has collected close to 6.1 lakh views. The post has further accumulated nearly 47,000 likes. The share has also prompted people to post varied comments.

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Shehbaz Sharif, others acquitted in Ashiana housing case

LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Saturday acquitted former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and others in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme case, ARY News reported.

AC judge Ali Zulqurnain announced the verdict and acquitted Shehbaz Sharif, senior bureaucrat Fawad Hasan Fawad, former director general of the Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema and others in the case.

The verdict came after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declared that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his time as the chief minister of Punjab, did not obtain any benefit from the government funds or misused his public office in the Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme case.

It also cleared other co-accused of any wrongdoing.

The corruption watchdog’s latest clean chit for the former prime minister came months after he, his family members and others were cleared in a money laundering case.

The case

The Ashiana scandal first emerged in January 2018 when NAB accused Sharif, the then-opposition leader of misusing his authority to illegally issue directives for cancellation of the contract with regard to the housing project during his tenure as chief minister in 2014.

In March 2014, the former chief minister had visited the Ashiana-e-Iqbal project site and halted its bidding process, according to the reference.

Read: Shehbaz Sharif’s daughter, son-in-law declared proclaimed offenders

The Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) was looking after the project, but Mr Sharif after visiting the site decided to assign the project to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) which resulted in the award of the contract to the Lahore Casa Developers (JV), causing Rs715m loss to the exchequer, the reference reads.

The NAB had arrested Shehbaz Sharif in the scam on October 5, 2018, inside its Lahore office where he had appeared after being summoned for questioning in connection with a probe into the Saaf Pani Company scam.

According to NAB, “the contract for the housing scheme was won by a construction company titled Chaudhry Latif and Sons but former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and his aides awarded the Rs 14 billion contract to Lahore Casa Developers – a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by then Railways Minister Saad Rafique”.

Senior bureaucrat Fawad Hasan Fawad, former director general of the Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema and several others were arrested later that year.

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British envoy meets Asif Zardari in Karachi

KARACHI: Former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday insisted Britain should play a flexible role in ending the Israeli aggression in Gaza, ARY News reported.

PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott in Karachi, which was also attended by Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr. Asim.

Amidst the diplomatic discussions, Asif Zardari expressed his warm wishes to David Cameron on his recent appointment as the Foreign Minister and extended birthday wishes to King Charles.

Zardari emphasized that Britain should play a flexible role in ending the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

The meeting was centered on promoting and strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

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World Cup 2023: Australia pick up the pace before India final

Australia head into their World Cup 2023 decider against India with all pieces in place following a devastating return to form of their vaunted pace attack in the South Africa semi-final.

 

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Power play wickets had proved elusive for the five-times champions but the withering opening spells of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were decisive against the Proteas in the three-wicket win in Kolkata.

Along with captain Pat Cummins, the fire-and-ice duo of Starc and Hazlewood had previously been left in the shade by legspinner Adam Zampa and his 22 victims at the tournament.

 

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On Thursday, however, the quicks grabbed eight of the 10 wickets between them for a handy confidence boost before the ultimate test against India’s peerless batting machine.

“It’s probably not been the tournament I would have liked from the get-go,” Starc told reporters.

“But nice to step up in a big game.”

Pace has never failed to be a factor in Australia’s white-ball triumphs and proved key when Aaron Finch’s squad won the nation’s maiden T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.

For all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, the glow in the Australian dressing room is akin to the squad’s ebullience during the UAE tournament where they peaked at the right time.

Australia’s quicks will again be looking to make early in-roads against the hosts, who racked up 397 for four in their semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai.

New Zealand’s pacemen failed to deal with the heat brought by India captain Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Shubman Gill who paved the way for the Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer centuries.

“It’s huge, and the bigger the game the more important it becomes,” said Hazlewood of capturing early wickets.

“So we know the blueprint now if we’re bowling first, and hopefully go again on Sunday.”

Ahmedabad’s pitch is likely to be a major talking point following the Mumbai semi-final where the hosts made a late change and served up a slow wicket.

 

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Australia beat England in Ahmedabad on a pitch which Hazlewood described as good “without being an absolute flat track”.

He said he expected similar for the final but was confident Australia’s quicks would be able to deal with any conditions.

“We’ve been around the block a few times now, and we’ve seen that with India, apart from that one game against us, they’ve played three quicks for the majority as well and they’ve been outstanding,” he said.

“So we know it can be done, we’ve seen them do it and we’ve been here a lot of times now so we know how to bowl in these conditions.”

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Copper coins recovered from Mohenjo Daro

In a major discovery, a team of experts announced unearthing a pot full of copper coins from the archaeological site, Mohenjo Daro, which they saw as the first remarkable discovery of artefacts at the 5,000-year-old city remains after 93 years.

Sources disclosed that a group of labourers were excavating a collapsed wall when they came across a pot full of ancient copper coins in the ancient city.

Director of Archaeology Mohenjodaro, Dr Syed Shakir Shah, who led the team comprising archaeological conservator Ghulam Shabir Joyo, had confirmed that the staff busy with preservation work had stumbled upon the pot of coins on Wednesday.

Sources said that the jar of coins weighing about five and a half kilogram was later shifted to the soil testing laboratory.

Tourists used to visit the 26th century B.C. Mohenjo Daro near Larkana in Sindh, one of the largest cities in of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.

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Govt releases anti-smog drive report

LAHORE: The district administration on Friday released a 15-day report of operations to curb the deteriorating situation of the smog in Lahore, ARY News reported.

According to the report, more than 300 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against civilians for smog-related violations.

The report claimed that the individuals found engaged in burning garbage outdoors faced penalties of more than Rs 1.2 million.

The district administration in its report claimed to arrest at least 21 individuals who were allegedly found guilty of burning waste in huge quantities near the Masri Shah area of Lahore, while three citizens were arrested in the same case near the Johar town area.

In its report, the district administration advised the citizens of Lahore to avoid burning urban garbage to assist the administration combating smog.

Earlier to this, to control smog, the Punjab government has imposed Section-144 and health emergencies in the Lahore division.

The decision was taken after the air quality in the provincial capital and surrounding areas had worsened in the last few days.

According to the notification, section 144 was imposed in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Nankana Sahib districts.

“Educational institutions, government and private offices, cinemas, parks and restaurants would remain closed during environmental and health emergencies while markets would remain shut on Saturday,” the notification stated.

However, marriage halls, bakeries, pharmacies, public transport and construction activities would not be halted.

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Punjab govt plans artificial rain in Lahore amid smog

In view of the worsening smog situation in Lahore, the caretaker Punjab government is considering to induce artificial rainfall in the city, ARY News reported on Friday.

According to details, smog has once again enveloped Lahore, leading to an increase in air pollution. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city has been recorded at 245, making Punjab’s provincial city, the top-ranked city in terms of pollution.

The Meteorological Department states that there is no possibility of rain in the next 24 hours in Lahore. Due to the rising smog, residents are facing difficulties, and medical experts have advised people to take precautionary measures while leaving their homes.

Read more: Schools, offices to remain closed on Nov 18 as Punjab battels smog

On Wednesday, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Mohsin Naqvi announced that schools and offices across the province would remain closed on November 18 (Saturday) as the province steps up efforts to curb smog.

Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city with a population of 11 million, continues to be either on top or among the top three most polluted cities due to large-scale smog.

The announcement came after CM Mohsin Naqvi chaired a meeting of the provincial Cabinet Committee on smog.

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‘I was 21, she was 17, we eloped…’: Usman Peerzada shares surprising details of marriage

Veteran actor Usman Peerzada spilt rare details of his marriage with Samina Peerzada, almost five decades ago.

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In a new interview with a local magazine, the TV and cinema veteran revealed that he eloped with his now-wife, actor Samina Peerzada, when he was 21, while she was four years younger than him.

Speaking about his wife, he said, “We grew up together. She was very young, and so was I.”

The veteran continued, “Someone like me, who would lecture my friends against early marriages, I actually got married at 21. She was 17. And we eloped.”

 

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When asked why they decided to elope and if there were problems from the family, he divulged, “There were none from my side but Samina’s mom – being a single mother – she wanted me to leave acting. Even though, I tried to convince her that ‘It is a very noble profession.’ But she wanted me to join the Merchant Navy, going by her personal experience of it being a stable job.”

Fast forward, Peerzada shared that it was his last day of shooting for a project and he was about to leave Karachi afterwards when Samina asked him to get married. “We went to a friend’s place who was living with his sister, explained the whole scenario to him and then solemnized our nikah there, with a chef and gardener being the witnesses,” he told the interviewer and added that they then went to her house with a box of sweets to break the news to her mother.

 

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“She was furious initially. Then my mother came from Lahore the next day and sorted everything out with her. After a couple of weeks, we got married as per the rituals,” concluded the ‘Mein’ actor.

It is pertinent to mention here that the veteran couple of Pakistan’s showbiz industry, Usman and Samina Peerzada got married in 1975. They share two daughters, Anum and Amal.

Watch: Sajid Hasan and Shakila Chapra’s unique love story

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Present conditions are self-inflicted wound, laments Nawaz Sharif

LAHORE: Pakistan’s currency, economic and the system has devastated, and prices increased by five-fold, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s supreme leader was addressing officials of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) today.

“It is our responsibility and duty to emancipate the people from price hike and poverty,” Nawaz Sharif, who returned from self-exile in London on October 21, addressing to businessmen said.

“People want education, health facilities and development,” he said. “It is their right, and it is responsibility of the state to provide these facilities,” PML-N leader said.

Nawaz claimed that Pakistan was became 24th largest global economy between 2013 to 2017. “We kept the US dollar static at Rs 104 rate for four years. The dollar would have dropped to Rs40 to 50 if our policies and development process were not interrupted,” he claimed.

“Today we are desperate for one billion dollars, it is self-inflicted harm we committed to us,” he said. “These miserable conditions are consequence of our own decisions,” he lamented.

“The policy rate has soared to 22 percent, which was 6.25 during our tenure,” he said. “Who can do business at 22 percent rate,” he questioned.

“We have ourselves committed excesses with the Parliament and prime ministers,” Nawaz Sharif said. “See, who was handed over the country. The rupee, economy and all systems suffered devastation”.

“Those who were paying Rs 1,000 monthly electricity bill, now paying 15,000 rupees,” he said. “Prices of everything, have soared by five-fold,” he added.

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