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Malala was accompanied by State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb among others as she travelled from Islamabad to Swat via helicopter.
Roads leading to the 20-year-old education activist´s home in Mingora were blocked off early on Saturday, according to Reuters.
The 20-year-old will reportedly visit her home in the valley as well as Cadet College and Fizagat Park.
Malala has been visiting Pakistan since Thursday, her first trip home since she was shot and airlifted abroad for treatment.
Malala reiterated her joy of being in Pakistan and her mission of providing education to children. “We want to work for the education of children and make it possible that every girl in Pakistan receives a high-level education and she can fulfill her dreams and become a part of society.”
When asked if she saw a difference in the Pakistan of 2012 and 2018, Malala said: "Certainly there is a difference and things are improving. People in our country are uniting for a better Pakistan. People are active, which is a very good thing.”
Malala said she appreciated the role of the then Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani in her treatment. “My treatment here [Pakistan] was by Army doctors and if they had not done my surgery in time I would not be here today.”
The 20-year-old also thanked the Army and government for the role they played in her return to the county, adding that without them this would not have been possible.
'Baseless propaganda and criticism'
In the interview, she expressed concern over 'baseless propaganda and criticism' on her especially by ‘well-educated’ people in Pakistan.
Malala said she wanted to know who was behind the malicious campaign against her, adding that she avoids watching news on television and going through negative comments on her social media posts in order to remain 'focused and positive.'
In the interview, Malala also mentioned her fellow students Shazia and Kainat — who were also injured when the Taliban attacked Malala in 2012. The two completed their tenth grade in Wales and now are pursuing higher education at Edinburgh University in Scotland, she said.
Malala Fund
A hospital, being built by Malala Fund, will enable women from getting treatment in their locality instead of traveling outside the village, she informed.
Responding to a question about helping the injured students of Army Public School for their medical treatment in England through the Malala Fund, the 20-year-old said, “We should help others not only by money but with our attitude and gestures.”
Role models
In response to a question about her role models, Malala said the nation had just lost one of the best role models, Asma Jahangir. “When you translate bravery into human body, you can call her Asma Jahangir.”
The 20-year-old expressed her faith in the Pakistani youth's ability and passion to bring a change.
"They are lucky to have many role models like you [Hamid Mir] to follow," she told the interviewer.
Future endeavors
Discussing her future endeavors, she remarked that Pakistan and Nigeria had topped the list for most numbers of girls outside schools. A school for girls, under construction in her hometown of Shangla in Swat district, will become the first secondary school in the area, Malala said.
Malala's homecoming
Malala returned to Pakistan in a surprise visit in the early hours of Thursday. She met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and addressed a gathering at the PM House.
“I am very happy and still can’t believe that this is happening…In the past five years I had always dreamt of stepping foot in my country,” Malala said as she slightly broke down speaking about her return.
In October 2012, Yousafzai — then 15 years old — was shot in the head at point-blank range by Taliban gunmen as she was returning from her school in Swat valley.
Paan and Malala Haters: Will Pakistan ever rid these stains?
She suffered bullet injuries and was admitted to the military hospital Peshawar but was later flown to London for further treatment.
The shooting drew widespread international condemnation.
She has become an internationally recognised symbol of resistance to the Taliban's efforts of denying women education and other rights.
In 2014, Yousafzai became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 in recognition of her efforts for children's rights.
The quake, with its epicenter in Afghanistan-Tajikistan border area, had an estimated depth of 230 kilometres, the seismological centre said.
Tremors were felt in Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand Division and adjacent areas.
There has been no loss of life or property reported in the wake of the earthquake.
Reportedly, a bomb planted along a road bank exploded as the convoy approached leaving two cops wounded and two killed. The DPO was travelling back to Dera Ismail Khan from Kulachi.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kareem Khan said that the attack was executed when DPO’s convoy was travelling through the area however, the police officer survived the attack.
Two bodies and the wounded were shifted to a nearby facility for medical treatment.
Security forces cordoned off the attack site and shut the area at its entry and exit points to launch a search operation.
NSA warmly received the guest and said that France was a great country with positive outlook.
The envoy applauded Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism and acknowledged civil and military sacrifices offered by the nation in this regard. He expressed desire to have long-term cooperation with Pakistan in this war against terror.
He also highlighted the importance of collective efforts against terrorism and said that France was willing to strengthen defence and intelligence cooperation in a comprehensive framework.Both sides recognized that the threat of terrorism and particularly Daesh was not yet over and efforts were required to effectively curb this menace in the region.
NSA’s opinion was sought on Pak-India relations and on Afghan peace prospects. NSA reiterated that Pakistan was willing to have friendly ties with all neighbouring countries.“India, by refusing dialogues, has defeated the spirit of bilateralism. And this will not lead us anywhere. Irrespective of prevailing impasse, both the countries can not escape dialogue and resolution of their disputes,” he said.
All mature nations sought to resolve their issues by way of dialogue and Pakistan would always insisted upon it while maintaining its National dignity and honour, he added.
Addressing public gathering in Sargodha, PM Abbasi said that the Nation was facing acute shortage of electricity, when PML N resumed power in 2013 but PML N government dealt the issue with mission to end the energy crisis from the county.
PM said that PML-N government has completed record development projects in different sectors across the country during current tenure.
He said we have been able to achieve five point seven growth rate despite challenges.
The Prime Minister said loadshedding has been overcome there will also be no gas shortage from now on.He said we have been able to achieve five point seven growth rate despite challenges.
The Prime Minister said loadshedding has been overcome there will also be no gas shortage from now on.
He said that his party had made efforts to end the gas and electricity deficit in Pakistan.
“Our government was faced with a lot of issues when we came to power,” he said. “Electricity and gas load-shedding were realities that Nawaz told me to tackle when I first became the prime minister.”Lashing out at his political rivals, Abbasi said former presidents Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari, both, had done nothing to improve the country’s condition.
He alleged that the former governments had only worked to fill their own pockets, but the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) had addressed the issues faced by the country.
“We continued on the road to development,” he said, adding that those who had created problems for the country were making speeches every day.
“Imran has forgotten how he used to lament that Asif Zardari had bought fourteen PTI MNAs. And when the time to elect the chairman of Senate, he voted for Zardari’s candidate.”He said he had visited the Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar as a ‘faryadi’ of the country.
He was referring to the reported remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar during a hearing on Thursday wherein he had said his job was to listen to the pleas of every ‘faryadi’ (complainant).
“The prime minister came with a plea, and it is my duty to hear everyone’s requests. I didn’t go to the PM house or the Secretariat. They came to visit me,” Justice Nisar was quoted as saying.Abbasi said his opponents had a problem with his meeting with the chief justice and have leveled allegations that he visited him as a ‘faryadi’.
“They said I visited the chief justice as a ‘faryadi’ [complainant],” he said, “so yes, I did go to him as a faryadi…as a ‘faryadi’ of this country.”
“My witness is the chief justice,” he said. “I don’t want to discuss the meeting but I can tell you that we did not discuss any personal issues.”Abbasi said he had contacted Justice Nisar to discuss issues faced by the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi laid the foundation stone of 100-bed Ch Abdul Hameed Cardiology Ward in DHQ Teaching Hospital.
He has also inaugurated the newly-installed MRI machine in the DHQ Hospital.
Besides, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also inaugurate a Sui gas project completed with a cost of Rs1.2 billion to improve gas supply with appropriate pressure in and around Sargodha city.
It has been learn that the Cardiology Ward will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs250 million. The district and law enforcement agencies have finalised all arrangements for the PM’s visit.
Addressing press conference in Lahore on Friday, he said that the statement of former Panama JIT head Wajid Zia’s is being presented by without context, however his statement did not give the Sharif family a clean chit.
“Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have failed to defend themselves and even failed to tell the SC about their means of income in 134 days, now they don’t have any way to escape from punishment while Hassan and Hussain Nawaz are at large and they have to be punished minimum three years,” he said.
The protesters had earlier warned of halting the metro bus if a notification for their service structure is not issued.
A spokesperson of the lady health workers announced to end the strike, stating that their demands had been accepted by the government and a notification of the same had been issued — a condition the protesters had put forth earlier on.
The health workers, who had been spending nights and days on Mall Road in protest, had said they would not end their sit-in until their demands are met.
The protest has disrupted traffic in Lahore as the protesters have occupied the main thoroughfare of the city.
The sit-in near Charing Cross had also polluted the area with trash all around that the protesting health workers have been clearing and burning on their own.
According to Express News, the accused were identified as Islam-ul-Haq, Jahangir Shah, Imran, Waqar and Aleem whereas Luqman was the suspected bomber.
CTD officials claimed the alleged terrorists were involved in attacks on Bedian and Ferozpur roads and were plotting attacks from a seminary they took refuge in.
The arrested terrorists had also allegedly planned to attack the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches but were not successful.
They were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation shortly after their arrest.
According to details, the body of a girl who had gone missing earlier this week was found in a canal on Wednesday.
According to a doctor at the hospital where autopsy was conducted, she was subjected to rape and violence before being strangled to death. The victim was a student of English literature at the Government College University, Faisalabad.The students of the university staged protest over the incident despite the security at the varsity rooting out the protest camp. The students expressed their anger over the incident and said that if such incidents continue to occur then how could they focus on their education.
They demanded of the authorities to trace the culprits involved in it and said that they would not sit quietly unless those behind it are not nabbed.The social media also reacted with anger over the gruesome incident with the GC University Student and Justice for Abida became the top trend in Pakistan on Twitter after people raise the issue on the micro-blogging website.
Suspects Arrested
They demanded of the government and the concerned authorities to not only arrest the culprits behind this heinous crime but also ensure security for the women.
Meanwhile, the police had arrested three persons over suspicions of their involvement in the case and all of them lives in the neighborhood of the murdered female student.
They are shifted to undisclosed location for further investigation.
Father Statement
The girl’s father, told the media on Thursday that his daughter had left the university after attending her classes, but did not return home.
“I and my relatives got worried and launched a search for her, but to no avail. I then approached Gulberg police for registration of a case, but the SHO not only refused to entertain my application but also used objectionable language.“I then sought assistance from City Police Officer Athar Ismail. But the CPO neither bothered to take action against the SHO nor ensured registration of a case,” Ali said, overcome with emotion while recalling his helplessness.
The girl’s father quoted eyewitnesses as saying they had seen some people bundling her into a car near the university.
SHO Suspended, Inquiry Ordered
The CPO has suspended the Gulberg SHO over the delay in registration of the case. A departmental probe into the incident has also been initiated against him. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has sought a report on the matter. The CPO has formed two teams to trace and arrest the culprits.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will hear the petition on April 4. The chief justice has recently been disposing of several old contempt petitions which have been gathering dust in the apex court.
Another petition, filed against the appointment of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, has also been fixed for hearing on April 4. The petitioner had challenged Justice Isa’s appointment as the chief justice of Balochistan High Court.
However, the registrar’s office had overruled the objections and returned the petition. But a three-member bench will take up the petition to see whether it is maintainable or not.
In a statement issued by the commission, the appointments of district returning officers will be carried out by judicial officials for which, letters have been dispatched to the registrars of high courts.
The commission has also sought lists of district and session judges and civil judges from the registrar under section 50 and 51 of Election Act.
Earlier, ECP had issued a preliminary list of fresh delimitation of constituencies of provincial and national assemblies for forthcoming General Elections 2018.
Reportedly, constituency number one is chalked out in Chitral while NA-55 in Attock is to be the first constituency in Punjab. Islamabad and Lahore have an additional seat this time while objections over the draft can be filed until April 3.
There are going to be three constituencies in Islamabad from NA-52 to NA-54. Rawalpindi is to comprise NA-56 to NA-63 while constituencies in Faisalabad are going to be from NA-101 to NA-110.
Lahore is going to have as many as 14 seats in General Elections 2018 after an addition of a seat.
NA-239 to NA-256 are to cover Karachi, Sindh’s densely populated capital that is home to over 20million people.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is to have four new constituencies taking the number of 39 while seven seats have been dissolved in Punjab province pulling the number down to 141.
Sindh and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have retained number of seats, 61 and 12. Balochistan province now has 16 constituencies of National Assembly (NA) from the previous figure of 12.
Talking to the media in Islamabad, Nawaz said that the comments made by CJP do not suit his stature and saying that ‘the PM walked to me with a plea’ is disgraceful. Nawaz said that if the CJP did make such comments he should stand by them now.
The rebuttal given by CJP on March 29 categorically stated that the attribution of using the word ‘faryadi’ (complainant) by the media for the prime minister is completely wrong and malicious.
“The Chief Justice holds the prime minister in high esteem, being the head of the government, and has never used the word faryadi for him,” the clarification from the Supreme Court read, “any misgivings in this regard should, therefore, be put to rest.”
Earlier, addressing the media inside the accountability court in Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif said that Abbasi can clarify about his meeting with the CJP if he deems it to be appropriate. He added that PM Abbasi had neither discussed anything with him before the meeting nor was he briefed about it afterwards. Sharif said that he would soon meet with PM Abbasi. “Such remarks should not have been made,” he said when asked about CJP’s alleged remarks.
When asked about the bench being reconstituted for former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason case, Nawaz said that he knows one thing for sure that the Musharraf case will reach its logical conclusion. “I am certain that everyone will be held accountable for their actions. Even though Musharraf is away right now but a day will come when he will have to come back and face the courts.”
“They keep repeating the same thing of assets, blame me for corruption but they have not been able to prove anything,” he stated.
“Hassan and Hussain Nawaz have never been prime ministers or ministers. Show me another reference in which there is no accusation of corruption and then look at mine. Where is the mention of corruption? The entire case revolves around our family business. National Accountability Bureaus’s star witness Wajid Zia has dismissed all the allegations himself. If convicting me of a crime is the prime motive, then nominate me in the National Logistics Cell (NLC),Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Rental Power cases so your wishes may come true. According to the reports, there is nothing in this case,” Nawaz stated conclusively.
Three-judge bench, headed by Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, resumed the hearing on Friday.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Waqar Rana, the prosecutor in the case, produced Director Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Haji Adam and Sajid Chaudhry, a reporter in local newspaper as the two witnesses.Adam admitted before the bench that the minister had given a statement regarding Justice Ijazul Ahsan, but the regulatory authority did not issue any notice to Dawn News for airing the statement on December 19.
Recording his statement, Chaudhry stated that Aziz’s press conference had given him the impression that the minister said the references against the Sharif family were prepared by Justice Ahsan.Both witnesses were crossed examined by Aziz’s counsel Ali Raza. Later, Raza sought time to submit a list of defence witnesses in order to produce them on April 16, which the bench allowed.
Russia said it was responding to what it called the baseless demands for scores of its own diplomats to leave a slew of mostly Western countries that have joined London and Washington in censuring Moscow over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
A day earlier, Moscow ordered the expulsion of 60 U.S. diplomats and the closing of the US consulate in St Petersburg, Russia’s second city, in retaliation for the biggest ejection of diplomats since the Cold War.
Preparations appeared to be underway on Friday to close the St Petersburg mission down, with a removals truck making repeated journeys to and from the consulate which took delivery of a large pizza order for its staff.
Russia summoned senior envoys on Friday from most of the other countries that have expelled Russian diplomats and told them it was expelling a commensurate number of theirs.
Russia has already retaliated in kind against Britain for ejecting 23 diplomats over the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War Two. British ambassador Laurie Bristow has summoned again on Friday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Bristow had been told London had just one month to cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain.
A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office did not say how many British diplomats would be affected, but said Russia’s response was regrettable and Moscow was in flagrant breach of international law over the killing of the former spy.
The poisoning, in southern England, has united much of the West in taking action against what it regards as the hostile policies of President Vladimir Putin. This includes the United States under President Donald Trump, who Putin had hoped would improve ties.
Russia rejects Britain’s accusation it stood behind the attack and has cast the allegations as part of an elaborate Western plot to sabotage East-West relations and isolate Moscow.
The hospital where she is being treated said on Thursday that Yulia Skripal was getting better after spending three weeks in a critical condition due to the nerve toxin attack. Her father remains in a critical but stable condition.
The BBC, citing sources, reported on Friday that Yulia was “conscious and talking”.
EXPULSIONS
During the course of Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned senior embassy officials from Australia, Albania, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Ukraine, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Canada and the Czech Republic.
All were seen arriving in their official cars at the Foreign Ministry’s gothic building in Moscow.
“They (the diplomats) were handed protest notes and told that in response to the unwarranted demands of the relevant states on expelling Russian diplomats ... that the Russian side declares the corresponding number of staff working in those countries’ embassies in the Russian Federation persona non grata,” the ministry said in a statement.
Four other countries — Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro — had only “at the last moment” announced that they too were expelling Russian diplomats over the Skripal affair, and Moscow reserved the right to take retaliatory action against them too, it said.
Emerging from the Foreign Ministry building, German ambassador Rudiger von Fritsch said Russia had questions to answer about the poisoning of Skripal, but Berlin remained open to dialogue with Moscow.
The US State Department said after Russia announced the expulsions on Thursday evening that it reserved the right to respond further, saying the list of diplomats designated for expulsion by Russia showed Moscow was not interested in diplomacy.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in a conference call with reporters on Friday, disagreed with that assessment, saying that Putin still favored mending ties with other countries, including with the United States.
A sobbing Warner said he realised he may never play for his country again. But he stonewalled questions about who was aware of the plot and whether it was the first such incident within the team.
Warner, 31, told a media conference in Sydney: "I can honestly say I have only wanted to bring glory to my country through playing cricket.
"In striving to do so I have made the decision which has had the opposite effect and it´s one that I will regret for as long as I live."
Warner´s appearance comes after similar heartfelt apologies by opening batsman Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith, who broke down when he faced the media on Thursday.
Coach Darren Lehmann, convinced to step down after seeing the apologies from Bancroft and Smith, was also tearful as he announced his resignation.
Smith and Warner were banned from international and domestic cricket for a year and Bancroft was suspended for nine months after the incident during the third Test in Cape Town.
Bancroft was caught on camera trying to use yellow sandpaper to alter the ball, an offence which triggered an outpouring of criticism against the hard-nosed Australian team.
Warner, a dynamic batsman but a divisive figure in the game, was charged by Cricket Australia with developing the plot and telling Bancroft to carry it out.
When questioned about a possible appeal, Warner said: "That´s something that I will continue to sit down with my family and weigh up all my considerations before I make any decisions."
A report Saturday said Bancroft was set to lodge an appeal and had sought legal advice ahead of Thursday´s appeals deadline.
'It´s inexcusable'
Warner, who struggled to control his emotions during his 10-minute media conference, apologised to both teams, their fans, Cricket Australia and his family, including his wife Candice who was also crying as she watched from the media seats.
But when asked for further details of the plot, such as whether it was his idea, who else was aware and whether it had happened before, he avoided the question.
"I am here today to accept my responsibility for my part and my involvement for what happened in Cape Town," Warner said.
"It´s inexcusable, I am deeply sorry. I will do everything I can to earn back the respect of the Australian public."
Warner, who has played 74 Test since his debut in 2011, said he would be seeking ways to make character changes. Warner, who has been described as the team´s "attack dog", was also banned in 2013 after punching England´s Joe Root in a bar.
"I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again, but I am resigned to the fact that may never happen," he said.
"But in the coming weeks and months, I am going to look at what has happened and who I am as a man.
"To be honest, I am not sure right now how I will do this, I will seek out advice and expertise to make serious changes."
Warner called it a "horrible" decision, adding: "I failed in my responsibilities as vice-captain of the Australian cricket team."
The fallout from the crisis has seen Warner dumped by sponsors ASICS and LG. Along with Smith, he has also been ejected from this year´s Indian Premier League, losing contracts worth nearly US$2 million each.
Malala was accompanied by State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb among others as she travelled from Islamabad to Swat via helicopter.
Roads leading to the 20-year-old education activist´s home in Mingora were blocked off early on Saturday, according to Reuters.
The 20-year-old will reportedly visit her home in the valley as well as Cadet College and Fizagat Park.
Malala has been visiting Pakistan since Thursday, her first trip home since she was shot and airlifted abroad for treatment.
Malala reiterated her joy of being in Pakistan and her mission of providing education to children. “We want to work for the education of children and make it possible that every girl in Pakistan receives a high-level education and she can fulfill her dreams and become a part of society.”
When asked if she saw a difference in the Pakistan of 2012 and 2018, Malala said: "Certainly there is a difference and things are improving. People in our country are uniting for a better Pakistan. People are active, which is a very good thing.”
Malala said she appreciated the role of the then Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani in her treatment. “My treatment here [Pakistan] was by Army doctors and if they had not done my surgery in time I would not be here today.”
The 20-year-old also thanked the Army and government for the role they played in her return to the county, adding that without them this would not have been possible.
'Baseless propaganda and criticism'
In the interview, she expressed concern over 'baseless propaganda and criticism' on her especially by ‘well-educated’ people in Pakistan.
Malala said she wanted to know who was behind the malicious campaign against her, adding that she avoids watching news on television and going through negative comments on her social media posts in order to remain 'focused and positive.'
In the interview, Malala also mentioned her fellow students Shazia and Kainat — who were also injured when the Taliban attacked Malala in 2012. The two completed their tenth grade in Wales and now are pursuing higher education at Edinburgh University in Scotland, she said.
Malala Fund
A hospital, being built by Malala Fund, will enable women from getting treatment in their locality instead of traveling outside the village, she informed.
Responding to a question about helping the injured students of Army Public School for their medical treatment in England through the Malala Fund, the 20-year-old said, “We should help others not only by money but with our attitude and gestures.”
Role models
In response to a question about her role models, Malala said the nation had just lost one of the best role models, Asma Jahangir. “When you translate bravery into human body, you can call her Asma Jahangir.”
The 20-year-old expressed her faith in the Pakistani youth's ability and passion to bring a change.
"They are lucky to have many role models like you [Hamid Mir] to follow," she told the interviewer.
Future endeavors
Discussing her future endeavors, she remarked that Pakistan and Nigeria had topped the list for most numbers of girls outside schools. A school for girls, under construction in her hometown of Shangla in Swat district, will become the first secondary school in the area, Malala said.
Malala's homecoming
Malala returned to Pakistan in a surprise visit in the early hours of Thursday. She met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and addressed a gathering at the PM House.
“I am very happy and still can’t believe that this is happening…In the past five years I had always dreamt of stepping foot in my country,” Malala said as she slightly broke down speaking about her return.
In October 2012, Yousafzai — then 15 years old — was shot in the head at point-blank range by Taliban gunmen as she was returning from her school in Swat valley.
Paan and Malala Haters: Will Pakistan ever rid these stains?
She suffered bullet injuries and was admitted to the military hospital Peshawar but was later flown to London for further treatment.
The shooting drew widespread international condemnation.
She has become an internationally recognised symbol of resistance to the Taliban's efforts of denying women education and other rights.
In 2014, Yousafzai became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 in recognition of her efforts for children's rights.
The quake, with its epicenter in Afghanistan-Tajikistan border area, had an estimated depth of 230 kilometres, the seismological centre said.
Tremors were felt in Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand Division and adjacent areas.
There has been no loss of life or property reported in the wake of the earthquake.
According to details, the demand for electricity has reached 13000MW against a production of 15,600MW.
In big cities, loadshedding duration is 2-3 hours whereas the suburb areas are undergoing a power cut of 4-5 hours. The authorities say that water provision in Tarbela and Mangla will improve the supply of electricity.
Lesco needs 29000MW electricity but is being provided 26000MW from National Power Construction Company (NPCC).
Lesco authorities claim that loadshedding is not being carried out at 80% feeders.
PML-N came to power four years ago promising to end scheduled blackouts - known as “load shedding” - that have plagued daily life for years, hobbling the economy and deterring foreign investment.
Higher power generation has helped ease load shedding in many areas in recent months, but technical breakdowns in the past have boosted the frequency and length of blackouts, sparking anger during the blistering late summer months.
Spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said three were fatally shot east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, Jabalia, located 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of Gaza City as well as the border town of Rafah.
He identified the victims as 27-year-old Omar Wahid Abu Samour, Mohammed Kamal Al-Najjar, 25, and 38-year-old Mahmoud Muammar.
The fourth was Mohammed Abu Omar, 22, who was shot and martyred east of Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.
Ahmed Oudeh, 19, 33-year-old Jihad Farina and Mahmoud Sa'di Rahmi were all martyred east of Gaza City as well.
A 22-year-old Palestinian man, identified as Ibrahim Abu Sha’ar, was also shot dead east of Rafah.
Abdel Fattah Bahjat Abdelnee, 18, and 42-year-old Abdul Qader Mardhi al-Hawajri also lost their lives in Israeli attacks shortly afterwards.
Seven more Palestinian protesters were also martyred in the Israeli assaults.
Al-Qidra added that nearly 1,500 protesters were also injured during the rally.
An Israeli drone was filmed firing several rounds of teargas on the protesters near the Gaza border. An AFP correspondent said several people were injured by the containers, which fell from a height of between 10 and 20 meters.
Amnesty International slams Israel’s land expropriation policies
Meanwhile, human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned the Tel Aviv regime’s policies of land confiscation and dispossession, calling on Israeli authorities to stop them.
The Britain-based organization, in a post published on its official Twitter page on Friday, stated Israel’s policies of land theft exacerbate the sufferings of the Palestinian nation, and deprive them of their basic rights.
'We won’t concede a single inch of Palestine’
Later in the day, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh arrived at the "return camps" along the eastern Gaza border and spoke to protesters.
In a statement broadcast on Palestinian television, Haniyeh said, "We welcome the Palestinian people everywhere, who have defeated the enemy leaders' gamble that the old die and the young forget. Here are the young people, the grandparents and the grandchildren.”
"We will not concede a single inch of the land of Palestine and do not recognize the Israeli entity. We promise Trump and all those who stand by his business and his plot that we are not giving up on Jerusalem al-Quds, and there is no solution but for the right of return," Haniyeh added.
Abbas calls for international community intervention
On Friday night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held the Israeli regime accountable for the deaths of the Palestinian protesters, and called on the international community to urgently intervene to “protect” the Palestinian people against Israel’s “escalating daily aggression.”
"I, faced with this sad event, place full responsibility on the Israeli authorities for the loss of the martyrs who were killed today following the firing of the occupation army (soldiers) against the popular and peaceful protests which came out to commemorate this anniversary and to take back its right in self-determination like other countries around the world,” Abbas stated.
“I have asked the envoy of the state of Palestine at the United Nations to communicate with members of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly… in order for them to take urgent and necessary steps to protect our people," he added.
The Palestinian president also declared Saturday a national day of mourning.
The Palestinian rally, dubbed the "Great March of Return," will last until May 15, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe) on which Israel was created.
Every year on May 15, Palestinians all over the world hold demonstrations to commemorate Nakba Day, which marks the anniversary of the forcible eviction of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland by Israelis in 1948.
More than 760,000 Palestinians - now estimated to number nearly five million with their descendants - were driven out of their homes on May 14, 1948.
Since 1948, the Israeli regime has denied Palestinian refugees the right to return, despite United Nations resolutions and international law that upholds people’s right to return to their homelands.
This year's Land Day demonstrations appear especially combustible as Palestinian anger is already high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital."
Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem al-Quds and parts of Syria’s Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967. It later annexed East Jerusalem al-Quds in a move not recognized by the international community.
Israel is required to withdraw from all the territories seized in the war under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, adopted months after the Six-Day War, in November 1967, but the Tel Aviv regime has been in non-compliance of that piece of international law ever since.
In particular, osteoporosis and bone fractures were much more likely in patients who received thyroxine treatment for more than a year after surgery, the study authors report in World Journal of Surgery.
“The incidence of thyroid cancer has been progressively increasing, resulting in an increase in the number of thyroidectomy operations,” said Dr. Ian Ganly of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who wasn’t involved in the study.
“This means there will be a corresponding increase in patients with osteoporosis and fracture,” Ganly said by email. “The findings from this paper could be used as an argument to treat such patients with observation (or delayed surgical intervention) rather than surgery.”
Researchers at four universities in Taiwan analyzed data in the national health insurance database for 1,400 patients who had all or part of their thyroid removed between 2000 and 2005 and 5,700 similar people who didn’t.
They considered age, sex and other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease and cancers other than thyroid cancer. In particular, the research team also looked for a new diagnosis of osteoporosis or related bone fracture.
They found that 120 patients in the group that had thyroid surgery and 368 in the group without surgery developed osteoporosis or fractures. Overall, the risk was about 1.5 times higher for both the partial and total thyroidectomy patients. The risk was also higher in younger patients between ages 20 and 49 and women who had thyroid surgery.
“We believe it is the degree of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression which is the main cause for increased osteoporosis,” Ganly said. “Reducing the degree of suppression, particularly in low-risk thyroid cancer patients that account for the bulk of all thyroid cancer patients, would seem the most obvious first remedy.”
A limitation of the study is that it is a retrospective look at data that can’t control for variables such as steroid use, alcohol use, presence of rheumatoid arthritis, primary hyperparathyroidism and other factors that lead to decreased bone density and osteoporosis, said Dr. Maria Papaleontiou of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who wasn’t involved in the study.
Future studies should look more closely at thyroid-stimulating hormone (or TSH) suppression therapy, which is currently the standard of care for patients with intermediate-risk and high-risk thyroid cancer, she said.
“TSH suppression therapy and overtreatment with thyroid hormone (both of which induce a state of hyperthyroidism) may have played a role in the development of adverse skeletal effects in these patients,” Papaleontiou said in an email.
University of Michigan researchers are conducting several studies in veterans to understand the possible links between thyroid overtreatment or suppression therapy and osteoporosis, she noted. They’re also surveying U.S. doctors to understand primary care physicians and specialists’ beliefs about thyroid hormone replacement therapy and bone density.
At the same time, she noted, current guidelines from national groups don’t recommend regular bone density screenings or osteoporosis treatments for patients who have undergone thyroid surgery.
“Decreased bone density may be multifactorial, physicians should use their experience and discretion in screening for and treating osteoporosis in these patients,” Papaleontiou said. “We should advocate for providing evidence-based patient care but by first doing no harm.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board have put in place stringent security arrangements for the West Indies team, with 8,000 policemen and paramilitary personnel guarding the visitors in and around the hotel and stadium.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee David Boon will supervise the series while ICC general manager cricket Geoff Allardice and umpires manager Adrian Griffith will also attend the matches to oversee arrangements.
The series comes as Pakistan is enjoying guarded optimism over the return of international cricket, driven from the country after a deadly militant attack targeting the Sri Lanka team in 2009.
Earlier this month Karachi successfully hosted the final of the popular Pakistan Super League (PSL), becoming the second major venue to host international matches after Lahore hosted Zimbabwe in 2015.
Lahore also hosted the PSL final in March last year, three World XI matches in September and one against Sri Lanka a month later.
This year s PSL final was the first major cricket event in Karachi since 2009. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said he was overjoyed at the return of international matches to his home city.
"This is a great occasion," said Sarfraz, the only player in the squad who has played a limited over international in Karachi before.
"We saw a big crowd in the PSl final so I hope they will come in big numbers for the Twenty20 series."
The other two matches will be played on Monday and Tuesday.
Pakistan have done well in the shortest format of the game, having won 14 of the 17 Twenty20 internationals since Sarfraz took over as captain in September 2016.
That helped them reach the number one spot in Twenty20 rankings, having won 2-1 in New Zealand in January this year.
Sarfraz said he hoped his team would keep the momentum.
"Whatever team West Indies sends we have to play at our best because they have good shorter format players," said the captain, whose team has only lost three of their 11 Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies.
Pakistan have included three newcomers in batsman Asif Ali, allrounder Hussain Talat and paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi -- after the trio fared well in the PSL 2018.
West Indies will be without their regular Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite, who opted out of the tour over security fears while openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, and spinner Sunil Narine were not available for selection due to their commitments to the Indian Premier League.
Middle order batsman Jason Mohammad will lead the side, which has four uncapped Twenty20 players in batsman Andre McCarthy, fast bowler Odean Smith, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and all-rounder Keemo Paul.
Teams:
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
West Indies: Jason Mohammed (captain), Samuel Badree, Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Andre McCarthy, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Odean Smith, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.
ICC match referee: David Boon (Aus).
Talking to media on the sidelines of the second day of Pakistan team’s training at National Stadium, Malik said, “We must not talk about big names, because names don’t matter, what matters in cricket is team combination.”
“I have been playing CPL [Caribbean Premier League] for last five years and the team [West Indies] have announced [for the tour] is very good. All these players have been performing for last few years. They’re a good combination. People are saying that there are no big names, but big names hardly matter, their team is very balanced and very good,” Malik said.
The all-rounder agreed that Pakistan would have an advantage of playing at home.
Malik, who was part of Pakistan squad that played the last international match in Karachi nine years ago – a Test match against Sri Lanka – welcomed the return of international cricket to Pakistan, saying that both fans and players were missing action at this venue.
“Karachi is Pakistan’s biggest city and economic hub, it’s a good sign that cricket is returning here. Congratulations to PCB and Karachi administration,” he said.
“People in Karachi and also cricketers have missed playing here. The city hosted PSL final, and here’s to hoping for another successful event in Karachi. I am [confident] that Karachi, after being deprived of cricket [for so long], will get some entertaining cricket and send a signal to the world that we can host cricket here. People here are very loving and it is reflected from the tweets of foreign players who recently visited Karachi for PSL.”
He hailed the inclusion of youngsters in Pakistan squad. “All the new players are very good, and it is good for Pakistan team to have performers coming in. Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Nawaz, Shadab and Faheem are the type of players who have a similar spark as our stars in the past. We need to give them confidence so that they can groom.”
Replying to a question, Pakistan’s most successful T20 player said that he is no longer bothered about his batting position and that he’s ready to play the part of bowling all-rounder in absence of Mohammad Hafeez.
“Being a senior, one must be consistent with their performance. A senior is not just responsible for his own performance, he must also help youngsters to grow,” he said.
“I consider myself an all-rounder and I’m available for any role the team requires from me. I am working equally hard on my bowling.”
Reportedly, a bomb planted along a road bank exploded as the convoy approached leaving two cops wounded and two killed. The DPO was travelling back to Dera Ismail Khan from Kulachi.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kareem Khan said that the attack was executed when DPO’s convoy was travelling through the area however, the police officer survived the attack.
Two bodies and the wounded were shifted to a nearby facility for medical treatment.
Security forces cordoned off the attack site and shut the area at its entry and exit points to launch a search operation.
The index floated in the positive range in the first half of the session, however, it shed points after opening for the second half before touching the day’s low of 45,392 points.In all, 230 million shares worth Rs9.5 billion were traded on the exchange. Of the 357 traded scrips, 146 advanced,194 declined and 17 remained unchanged.
The chemical sector dominated trading with 39 million shares traded while technology and commercial banking sectors followed with 30m ad 29m shares traded respectively.
NSA warmly received the guest and said that France was a great country with positive outlook.
The envoy applauded Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism and acknowledged civil and military sacrifices offered by the nation in this regard. He expressed desire to have long-term cooperation with Pakistan in this war against terror.
He also highlighted the importance of collective efforts against terrorism and said that France was willing to strengthen defence and intelligence cooperation in a comprehensive framework.Both sides recognized that the threat of terrorism and particularly Daesh was not yet over and efforts were required to effectively curb this menace in the region.
NSA’s opinion was sought on Pak-India relations and on Afghan peace prospects. NSA reiterated that Pakistan was willing to have friendly ties with all neighbouring countries.“India, by refusing dialogues, has defeated the spirit of bilateralism. And this will not lead us anywhere. Irrespective of prevailing impasse, both the countries can not escape dialogue and resolution of their disputes,” he said.
All mature nations sought to resolve their issues by way of dialogue and Pakistan would always insisted upon it while maintaining its National dignity and honour, he added.
The move comes as a surprise to market followers and analysts that expected an interest-rate hike after the rupee underwent a second massive round of devaluation on March 20. The development took the overall plunge of the rupee to over 9% against the US dollar in the last three months, stoking fears of inflation and a corresponding hike in the interest rate.
However, the SBP, in a statement released on Friday evening, said “the Monetary Policy Committee is of the view that some time may be allowed for the impact of recent policy developments to unfold and has therefore decided to maintain policy rate at 6% for the next two months”.
It said that inflation has yet to pick pace due to subdued food prices and lower-than-anticipated increase in house rents.
“CPI inflation has remained moderate during Jan-Feb FY18, averaging 4.1% mainly, because of subdued food prices and lower than anticipated increase in house rents.
Going forward, a sticky core inflation along with a moderate outlook of food prices amid abundant grain stocks and the recent increase in policy rate are expected to contain average inflation well below the FY18 target of 6% and close to it for FY19.
“This assessment takes into account the lagged impact of exchange rate flexibility and its second-round effects (specifically through adjustments in fuel prices), demand pressures, and volatile global oil prices.”
The central bank had earlier jacked up the interest rate in January by 25 basis points to 6%, after maintaining the status quo for 20 months. Previously, the rate had stood at a four-decade low of 5.75% since May 2016. It was in double digits at 10% in the first half of fiscal year 2012-13 before inflationary pressures started easing.
The SBP announces a target rate every two months, which serves as the benchmark interest rate for overnight funds in the interbank market. It is one of the tools the central bank uses to ensure price stability in the economy.
Decreasing the target rate poses the risk of high inflation, but also stimulates economic growth by making credit cheaper. In contrast, raising the target rate restricts the level of liquidity, which subdues consumer prices in the economy. The central bank tries to strike a balance by targeting the overnight cost of funds at a level that promotes maximum economic growth without causing high inflation.
Addressing public gathering in Sargodha, PM Abbasi said that the Nation was facing acute shortage of electricity, when PML N resumed power in 2013 but PML N government dealt the issue with mission to end the energy crisis from the county.
PM said that PML-N government has completed record development projects in different sectors across the country during current tenure.
He said we have been able to achieve five point seven growth rate despite challenges.
The Prime Minister said loadshedding has been overcome there will also be no gas shortage from now on.He said we have been able to achieve five point seven growth rate despite challenges.
The Prime Minister said loadshedding has been overcome there will also be no gas shortage from now on.
He said that his party had made efforts to end the gas and electricity deficit in Pakistan.
“Our government was faced with a lot of issues when we came to power,” he said. “Electricity and gas load-shedding were realities that Nawaz told me to tackle when I first became the prime minister.”Lashing out at his political rivals, Abbasi said former presidents Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari, both, had done nothing to improve the country’s condition.
He alleged that the former governments had only worked to fill their own pockets, but the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) had addressed the issues faced by the country.
“We continued on the road to development,” he said, adding that those who had created problems for the country were making speeches every day.
“Imran has forgotten how he used to lament that Asif Zardari had bought fourteen PTI MNAs. And when the time to elect the chairman of Senate, he voted for Zardari’s candidate.”He said he had visited the Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar as a ‘faryadi’ of the country.
He was referring to the reported remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar during a hearing on Thursday wherein he had said his job was to listen to the pleas of every ‘faryadi’ (complainant).
“The prime minister came with a plea, and it is my duty to hear everyone’s requests. I didn’t go to the PM house or the Secretariat. They came to visit me,” Justice Nisar was quoted as saying.Abbasi said his opponents had a problem with his meeting with the chief justice and have leveled allegations that he visited him as a ‘faryadi’.
“They said I visited the chief justice as a ‘faryadi’ [complainant],” he said, “so yes, I did go to him as a faryadi…as a ‘faryadi’ of this country.”
“My witness is the chief justice,” he said. “I don’t want to discuss the meeting but I can tell you that we did not discuss any personal issues.”Abbasi said he had contacted Justice Nisar to discuss issues faced by the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi laid the foundation stone of 100-bed Ch Abdul Hameed Cardiology Ward in DHQ Teaching Hospital.
He has also inaugurated the newly-installed MRI machine in the DHQ Hospital.
Besides, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also inaugurate a Sui gas project completed with a cost of Rs1.2 billion to improve gas supply with appropriate pressure in and around Sargodha city.
It has been learn that the Cardiology Ward will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs250 million. The district and law enforcement agencies have finalised all arrangements for the PM’s visit.
Addressing press conference in Lahore on Friday, he said that the statement of former Panama JIT head Wajid Zia’s is being presented by without context, however his statement did not give the Sharif family a clean chit.
“Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have failed to defend themselves and even failed to tell the SC about their means of income in 134 days, now they don’t have any way to escape from punishment while Hassan and Hussain Nawaz are at large and they have to be punished minimum three years,” he said.
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) -- based on sales data for 76 countries -- shows that consumption of antibiotics increased 65 percent from 2000 to 2015, driven by users in low- and middle-income countries.
Over the 16-year period studied, the increase in antibiotics consumption was marginal in the three countries with the highest usage -- the United States, France and Italy.
But it was a different story elsewhere: in Asia, consumption of antibiotics more than doubled in India, skyrocketed 79 per cent in China and rose 65 per cent in Pakistan.
The three countries are the biggest users of antibiotics among the countries deemed low and middle-income for the purposes of the study.
The research team headed by scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in the US capital said countries needed to invest in alternative treatments, sanitation and vaccination.
"With antibiotic consumption increasing worldwide, the challenge posed by antibiotic resistance is likely to get worse," said the authors of the study, which was published in Monday´s edition of PNAS.
"Antibiotic resistance, driven by antibiotic consumption, is a growing global health threat," it said.
"As with climate change, there may be an unknown tipping point, and this could herald a future without effective antibiotics."
In the 76 countries studied, the number of so-called "defined daily doses" consumed rose from 21.2 billion in 2000 to 34.8 billion in 2015.
Eili Klein, a researcher at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy and one of the study´s authors, said the jump signifies "increased access to needed drugs in countries with lots of disease that can be effectively treated with antibiotics."
But, Klein warned: "As more and more countries gain access to these drugs, these rates will only increase and that will drive resistance rates higher."
One group of experts formed in the United Kingdom in 2014 estimates that in 2016, there were at least 700,000 deaths related to drug-resistant infections.
They are also countries that suffer in some areas from poor sanitation, irregular access to vaccines and a lack of cleaning drinking water -- all conditions that allow infectious diseases and drug-resistant infections to spread.
"Radical rethinking of policies to reduce consumption is necessary, including major investments in improved hygiene, sanitation, vaccination, and access to diagnostic tools both to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and to decrease the burden of infectious disease," the study says.
For Klein, eliminating overuse of antibiotics should be "a first step and a priority for every country" especially given the alarming projection that by 2030, consumption may have increased by another 200 percent.
"Estimates are that 30 per cent of use in high income countries is inappropriate," Klein told.
Mahira and Sheheryar also appeared in Raza’s debut film, but the director promises the romantic comedy will be “very different” from Ho Mann Jahaan.
“A director has a signature style so that’s that but Paray Hat Luv is very different from Ho Mann Jahaan,” Raza said while speaking to Geo News.
“Ho Mann Jahaan was a serious drama film with a very different story and characters,” he continued.
The director further said this time, Mahira and Sheheryar will be paired together unlike in Ho Mann Jahaan where Mahira was seen with Adeel Hussain.
Raza added that Paray Hat Luv is “is young, fresh and vivacious”. “The content of the film is engaging and the canvas is larger and vibrant.”
"The story plays on an underlying fear of today’s generation to commit to anything in life. The story promises to be a journey of romance, emotion, drama and witty puns," he continued.
Regarding why he chose Mahira and Sheheryar, the director said, “Mahira first worked with me when she was very young and I have seen her grow as an actor and she’s someone I can work with well.”
“As a director, you choose stars according to who you can work with easily and who you know will deliver and fully commit to work over a period of six months,” he added.
The director further said that the film will be produced by Sheheryar Munawar and has been written by seasoned writer Imran Aslam.
Azaan Sami Khan has been given the responsibility of music.
The cast of the film also includes Nadeem Baig, Hina Dilpazeer, Ahmed Ali Butt, Zara Noor Abbass, Rachel Viccaji and others.
