Rangers Spokesman said snap checking and mobile patrolling have been increased in Karachi and interior Sindh.
There will be complete ban on aerial firing and display of any kind of weapon on the occasion.
During the hearing of money laundering case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar asked why the federal government has included names of 172 accused in ECL.
Name of second biggest province’s chief minister was also placed on the list, he added.
The top judge said that this step is against the individual freedom that is the right of every citizen.
The court has also summoned Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman in personal capacity.
Meanwhile, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told that the team has suggested to file National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference against the accused. JIT neither proved anyone guilty nor declared anyone innocent, he added.
Earlier, JIT report revealed that Omni group established 11 fake companies to operate 16 accounts in Summit Bank, eight in Sindh Bank and five in UBL.
The report further exposed that the fake entities used Park Lane Company, which is owned by former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as their business addresses in their account opening forms.
According to the facts mentioned in the report, Rs8 billion transaction had been made in the bank account of Asif Zardari’s close aide Mushtaq Ahmad.
He visited 80 countries along with the PPP co-chairman and has been living abroad.
The former president had presented Mushtaq as his physiotherapist, the report revealed.
The report further revealed that super model Aayan Ali transferred billions of rupees in her more than 80 visits to overseas countries.
Zardari paid Rs14 billion tax from the account of deceased Idrees, while Idrees’s fake account was operated even after death.
Five fake bank accounts had been opened in the name of Omni group employee Ashraf, while Lucky International’s account was opened under the name of Adnan Computer Hardware and the account of Royal Traders was opened under the name of Ahmad Anoosh.
Dream Trading’s account was opened under the name of Rasheed Rickshawwala.
According to JIT report, four fake bank accounts were opened in the name of Iqbal Arain, who had died May 9, 2014.
As many as 10 fake accounts worth Rs9 billion had been opened in the name of Omni Group employee Umair.
The report revealed that Asif Zardari along with 60 others used Omni Group’s helicopter.
He said the government is neither going to impose Governor rule in Sindh nor abolish 18th amendment.
The Information Minister said Pakistan People’s Party should replace someone else with Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister of the province because his name has appeared in the JIT report on fake bank accounts case.
He said all allegations against Asif Ali Zardari are documented, urging PPP and PML-N to support transparent investigation in this regard.
Rangers Spokesman said snap checking and mobile patrolling have been increased in Karachi and interior Sindh.
There will be complete ban on aerial firing and display of any kind of weapon on the occasion.
During the hearing of money laundering case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar asked why the federal government has included names of 172 accused in ECL.
Name of second biggest province’s chief minister was also placed on the list, he added.
The top judge said that this step is against the individual freedom that is the right of every citizen.
The court has also summoned Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman in personal capacity.
Meanwhile, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told that the team has suggested to file National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference against the accused. JIT neither proved anyone guilty nor declared anyone innocent, he added.
Earlier, JIT report revealed that Omni group established 11 fake companies to operate 16 accounts in Summit Bank, eight in Sindh Bank and five in UBL.
The report further exposed that the fake entities used Park Lane Company, which is owned by former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as their business addresses in their account opening forms.
According to the facts mentioned in the report, Rs8 billion transaction had been made in the bank account of Asif Zardari’s close aide Mushtaq Ahmad.
He visited 80 countries along with the PPP co-chairman and has been living abroad.
The former president had presented Mushtaq as his physiotherapist, the report revealed.
The report further revealed that super model Aayan Ali transferred billions of rupees in her more than 80 visits to overseas countries.
Zardari paid Rs14 billion tax from the account of deceased Idrees, while Idrees’s fake account was operated even after death.
Five fake bank accounts had been opened in the name of Omni group employee Ashraf, while Lucky International’s account was opened under the name of Adnan Computer Hardware and the account of Royal Traders was opened under the name of Ahmad Anoosh.
Dream Trading’s account was opened under the name of Rasheed Rickshawwala.
According to JIT report, four fake bank accounts were opened in the name of Iqbal Arain, who had died May 9, 2014.
As many as 10 fake accounts worth Rs9 billion had been opened in the name of Omni Group employee Umair.
The report revealed that Asif Zardari along with 60 others used Omni Group’s helicopter.
He said the government is neither going to impose Governor rule in Sindh nor abolish 18th amendment.
The Information Minister said Pakistan People’s Party should replace someone else with Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister of the province because his name has appeared in the JIT report on fake bank accounts case.
He said all allegations against Asif Ali Zardari are documented, urging PPP and PML-N to support transparent investigation in this regard.
The polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break.
There are 57,675 registered voters in the constituency who will exercise their right of vote today.
The seat fell vacant after the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Ahmed Ali Kohzad, who had won general elections on July 25, was disqualified by Election Commission of Pakistan for being an Afghan national.
According to an election commission spokesperson, 49 polling stations have been set up, of which 28 are for men, 19 for women and two are for both.
All polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’.
Strict security measures will be in place during the by-poll.
At least 1,443 police officials along with FC personnel will be deployed to maintain peace during the by-poll.
He was talking to Finance Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Khan Jhagra, who called on him in Islamabad.
Taimur Khan briefed the Prime Minister on the steps taken by the provincial government to improve economic condition of the province.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Health Minister Aamir Kiani paid a surprise visit to Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and inquired about the facilities for patients.
He also inquired about health of under treatment patients in the hospital.
The Prime Minister lauded performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people and directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is hearing the case.
During the proceedings the Chief Justice ordered PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and PPP MPA Faryal Talpur to submit their reply in the case during this week.
The court rejected the plea of Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur's counsel Farooq H Naik to withdraw from the case and directed him to continue advocating the case.
The apex court sought record of putting the names of suspects in the JIT report on ECL from the government.
The JIT in its report had recommended NAB cases and freezing of assets of the Zardari Group and its front companies.
The report had also suggested that all the persons involved in money laundering be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
In view of the JIT findings, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 suspects whose names were placed on the no-fly list.
The list included Bilawal, Zardari, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presidents of a number of local banks, and other former ministers and bureaucrats.
In its interim order on December 29, the Supreme Court directed the concerned authorities to seize all records pertaining to fake bank accounts and present them before the court.
It also issued orders to freeze all fake bank accounts identified in the JIT report.
The same day, Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, submitted a reply in the apex court declaring themselves innocent and requested it to dismiss the JIT report.
The case
The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur.
Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
PM Imran Khan on Friday had said that “since yesterday have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh,” in an apparent jibe aimed at the PPP whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake accounts.
Bilawal, taking to Twitter, said that indeed Sindh is raising the hue and cry but that these complains are a result of gas loadshedding in Sindh, which “produces the most gas”, as well as blocking of water to the province.
“Sindh is complaining because agriculture and industries are being destroyed,” he said.
He then went on to threaten the PTI that these complaints are quickly snowballing into a “huge roar” which would eventually topple the government.
The two parties came face to face after the PTI started hinting at a leadership change in the provincial government following Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s inclusion in the Exit Control List on Friday. The PPP slammed the ECL move and has warned against toppling its government in Sindh.
Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik signed the 80-page verdict in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) corruption reference.
In the verdict, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik said that the NAB could not establish former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s relationship with 16 companies in the corruption reference.
However, announcing the verdict in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) case, the judge convicted Nawaz Sharif and awarded him seven years’ imprisonment and fined him as well.
The defence counsel may apply for an attested copy of the judgment on Monday.
On December 24, Nawaz Sharif had given seven years of jail time in Al-Azizia Reference Case. Although, Accountability Court has acquitted Nawaz Sharif in Flagship Investment Reference.
According to details, Nawaz Sharif has been jailed for seven years by the Accountability Court and also fined Rs. 1.5 Billion in Al-Azizia Steel Mills Case.
During his first visit to Istantul after taking office, the prime minister will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and over all security situation of the region with Turkish leadership.
He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood.
Imran Khan will also address a business forum, and hold several meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors during his stay at Ankara.
The premier’s visit will reinforce the historic ties between the governments and the people of the two brotherly countries. The visit will also help to explore new vistas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of economic, trade and commercial relations.
According to PTI’s spokesperson PM Imran telephoned him and expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki.
Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh.On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation.
“The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked.
In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountability process was a part of democratic norms, and everybody was bound to accept the apex court’s judgement following submission of the report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on money laundering of multi-billion rupees.
The minister said Murad Ali Shah will remain the chief minister of Sindh and the news of a forward bloc are baseless.
He said people are not happy with the PTI government and wanted to get rid of. We can make a big upset in the province if our leadership allowed us, he added.
Shah said the chief minister is enjoying 100 percent confidence of his leadership, adding that we will submit our reply to the court of law and prove the JIT report wrong.
The minister said putting the name of PPP’s leadership on the ECL will be meant to block the development and progress of Sindh province.
According to sources, the meeting is deemed to discuss over the JIT Report and inclusion of names of prominent PPP Leaders in the Exit Control List (ECL).
The meeting is scheduled to commence in the evening at Bilawal House Karachi today. Sources stated that PPP Leaders will prepare certain strategies to counter the issues that may arise after prominent party leaders were made part of ECL.
Also, they’ll prepare a reply to the JIT report submitted in Supreme Court regarding the infamous Mega Money Laundering Scam.
PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari himself will be chairing the session where central and provincial leaders will be taking part in the session.
Legal experts have also been summoned in the special meeting held today at Bilawal House Karachi. Big decisions are expected to be made in today’s meeting of Pakistan People’s Party.
Earlier on December 28, the federal government released a list of 172 suspects whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The PTI led Government put the names of all 172 accused in multi-billion rupee fake accounts scam on the exit control list. The list includes Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto, CM Murad Ali Shah and several Sindh ministers.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, Shah said Prime Minister Imran Khan is creating uncertainty and a crisis situation in the country. “He [Imran Khan] has done nothing except arrest politicians. He is being asked to do things which no other politician would do.”
Responding to a question regarding Bilawal’s arrest, Shah said that a lot of courage is needed to arrest him. “It is not possible to arrest him but nothing certain can be said about this government.”
"There is no need for in-house change in Sindh because the cases have been made on the bases of assumptions and it is not possible to impose governor’s rule in the province,” the senior PPP leader said. “There is no place for it in the constitution. Governor rule can only be imposed through martial law.”
The former opposition leader in National Assembly added that enforcing governor's rule will not be any better for the country. The constitution provides a guarantee of a strong federation and the country's security would be in jeopardy if the constitution is altered, he pointed out.
Shah further said that efforts are being made to bring a one-party system in the country. “It feels like the country is moving towards the imposition of civilian martial law. The way politics is being done nowadays it seems like one party is being strengthened while others are being weakened,” he added.
The PPP leader claimed that Imran Khan did not come into power through the public's mandate but was brought into power and that everyone is aware of how he came into power.
“Imran Khan is trying to hide his incompetence through frivolous activities. He [Imran] does not want anyone to question him about the promises he made."
Speaking to different delegations at his office, Khan said that the people who looted Sindh will have to be accountable and the PPP president Asif Ali Zardari will fail in his attempt to play the 'Sindh card'.
The PTI leader said that those who had the penchant to level accusations against others have been exposed in front of the people of Pakistan.
"Rather than giving answers on the JIT findings they are hiding away," he said.
Khan sarcastically remarked that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif should be happy that his 'Ali baba and forty thieves' are being taken into account. The Sharif family should prepare a barrack for Zardari now, he added.
The PTI minister’s remarks came a day before Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to meet the party leaders amid reports of the governor's rule in the province.
The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
Reportedly, he spoke to the media during his visit to Layari area of Karachi.
“Those who are talking about making a forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly should be reminded that their government has a lead of only four votes in the parliament,” he said.
He termed the results of 2018 General Elections as false and ‘stolen’, and claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government could not resolve core issues of the general public in the first five months of its tenure, rather it has triggered ‘tsunami’ in the country.
“How can you change chief minister of Sindh?” he asked, adding that inquiries were also being conducted against Prime Minister Imran Khan and KP’s chief minister, so they should have also been ousted from power.
“PPP has already faced such cases in the past,” he said, adding that the party was not afraid of these tactics.
He further lamented the federal government, and asserted that the PTI could not form government in Sindh through democratic norms.
"Why is India stealing our water?" the Justice Nisar enquired, asserting, "We will not let India steal Pakistan's water."
He added that the court would "not allow water to be stolen from poor farmers from the Abasia Link Canal."
He explained that stealing water from them was "synonymous to sucking their blood".
The chief justice asked if the Punjab government was aware of whether India was stealing water from the Ravi river, and if so, what steps had been taken to remedy the situation.
The secretary, Murtaza, replied that water was not being stolen by India, to which the chief justice ordered that an operation be conducted by the Irrigation Department and police against those who steal water.
"We will not let anyone be exploited. Cases should be registered against those who steal water in Pakistan," Justice Nisar thundered, adding that Murtaza should tell those in power that this was the top judge's warning.
Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party meeting in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish forces have successfully carried out two counter-terrorist operations in Syria۔
Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.
Rangers Spokesman said snap checking and mobile patrolling have been increased in Karachi and interior Sindh.
There will be complete ban on aerial firing and display of any kind of weapon on the occasion.
During the hearing of money laundering case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar asked why the federal government has included names of 172 accused in ECL.
Name of second biggest province’s chief minister was also placed on the list, he added.
The top judge said that this step is against the individual freedom that is the right of every citizen.
The court has also summoned Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman in personal capacity.
Meanwhile, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told that the team has suggested to file National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference against the accused. JIT neither proved anyone guilty nor declared anyone innocent, he added.
Earlier, JIT report revealed that Omni group established 11 fake companies to operate 16 accounts in Summit Bank, eight in Sindh Bank and five in UBL.
The report further exposed that the fake entities used Park Lane Company, which is owned by former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as their business addresses in their account opening forms.
According to the facts mentioned in the report, Rs8 billion transaction had been made in the bank account of Asif Zardari’s close aide Mushtaq Ahmad.
He visited 80 countries along with the PPP co-chairman and has been living abroad.
The former president had presented Mushtaq as his physiotherapist, the report revealed.
The report further revealed that super model Aayan Ali transferred billions of rupees in her more than 80 visits to overseas countries.
Zardari paid Rs14 billion tax from the account of deceased Idrees, while Idrees’s fake account was operated even after death.
Five fake bank accounts had been opened in the name of Omni group employee Ashraf, while Lucky International’s account was opened under the name of Adnan Computer Hardware and the account of Royal Traders was opened under the name of Ahmad Anoosh.
Dream Trading’s account was opened under the name of Rasheed Rickshawwala.
According to JIT report, four fake bank accounts were opened in the name of Iqbal Arain, who had died May 9, 2014.
As many as 10 fake accounts worth Rs9 billion had been opened in the name of Omni Group employee Umair.
The report revealed that Asif Zardari along with 60 others used Omni Group’s helicopter.
He said the government is neither going to impose Governor rule in Sindh nor abolish 18th amendment.
The Information Minister said Pakistan People’s Party should replace someone else with Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister of the province because his name has appeared in the JIT report on fake bank accounts case.
He said all allegations against Asif Ali Zardari are documented, urging PPP and PML-N to support transparent investigation in this regard.
Hasina´s ruling Awami League party and its allies won 288 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with the main opposition securing only six seats, Election Commission secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said.
Sunday´s vote, which hands Hasina a record fourth term, was overshadowed by clashes between rival supporters that killed at least 17 people and allegations of ballot box stuffing and intimidation at polling stations.
Hasina´s government had mounted a crackdown on the opposition, an alliance led by the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), which urged the country´s election commission to void the results.
"We are demanding that a fresh election is held under a neutral government as early as possible," Kamal Hossain, who heads the alliance, told reporters.
Deadly violence that blighted the election campaign spilled over into voting day, even as authorities imposed tight security with 600,000 troops, police and other security forces deployed across the country.
Thirteen people were killed in clashes between Awami League and BNP supporters, police said, while three men were shot by police who said they were protecting polling booths.
An auxiliary police member was also killed by armed opposition activists, according to officials.
´We´ll cast your vote´
Hasina, 71, has been lauded for boosting economic growth in the poor South Asian nation during her decade in power and for welcoming Rohingya refugees fleeing a military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar.
But critics accuse her of authoritarianism and crippling the opposition including arch-rival and BNP leader Khaleda Zia who is serving 17 years in prison on graft charges.
The opposition alliance accused Hasina´s party of using stuffed ballot boxes and other illegal means to fix the result.
BNP spokesman Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said there were "irregularities" in 221 of the 300 seats contested.
Bangladesh election commission spokesman S.M. Asaduzzaman told AFP the body had "received a few allegations of irregularities" and was investigating.
Hasina has not responded to the accusations but said in the run-up to the vote that it would be free and fair.
Addressing a public meeting in Rawalpindi, he said the government is taking revolutionary steps for promotion of health sector in the country.
He said five new state-of-the-art hospitals would be built in the twin cities to lessen the patients’ load on existing hospitals.
The polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break.
There are 57,675 registered voters in the constituency who will exercise their right of vote today.
The seat fell vacant after the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Ahmed Ali Kohzad, who had won general elections on July 25, was disqualified by Election Commission of Pakistan for being an Afghan national.
According to an election commission spokesperson, 49 polling stations have been set up, of which 28 are for men, 19 for women and two are for both.
All polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’.
Strict security measures will be in place during the by-poll.
At least 1,443 police officials along with FC personnel will be deployed to maintain peace during the by-poll.
He was talking to Finance Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Khan Jhagra, who called on him in Islamabad.
Taimur Khan briefed the Prime Minister on the steps taken by the provincial government to improve economic condition of the province.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Health Minister Aamir Kiani paid a surprise visit to Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and inquired about the facilities for patients.
He also inquired about health of under treatment patients in the hospital.
The Prime Minister lauded performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people and directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is hearing the case.
During the proceedings the Chief Justice ordered PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and PPP MPA Faryal Talpur to submit their reply in the case during this week.
The court rejected the plea of Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur's counsel Farooq H Naik to withdraw from the case and directed him to continue advocating the case.
The apex court sought record of putting the names of suspects in the JIT report on ECL from the government.
The JIT in its report had recommended NAB cases and freezing of assets of the Zardari Group and its front companies.
The report had also suggested that all the persons involved in money laundering be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
In view of the JIT findings, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 suspects whose names were placed on the no-fly list.
The list included Bilawal, Zardari, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presidents of a number of local banks, and other former ministers and bureaucrats.
In its interim order on December 29, the Supreme Court directed the concerned authorities to seize all records pertaining to fake bank accounts and present them before the court.
It also issued orders to freeze all fake bank accounts identified in the JIT report.
The same day, Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, submitted a reply in the apex court declaring themselves innocent and requested it to dismiss the JIT report.
The case
The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur.
Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
PM Imran Khan on Friday had said that “since yesterday have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh,” in an apparent jibe aimed at the PPP whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake accounts.
Bilawal, taking to Twitter, said that indeed Sindh is raising the hue and cry but that these complains are a result of gas loadshedding in Sindh, which “produces the most gas”, as well as blocking of water to the province.
“Sindh is complaining because agriculture and industries are being destroyed,” he said.
He then went on to threaten the PTI that these complaints are quickly snowballing into a “huge roar” which would eventually topple the government.
The two parties came face to face after the PTI started hinting at a leadership change in the provincial government following Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s inclusion in the Exit Control List on Friday. The PPP slammed the ECL move and has warned against toppling its government in Sindh.
Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik signed the 80-page verdict in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) corruption reference.
In the verdict, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik said that the NAB could not establish former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s relationship with 16 companies in the corruption reference.
However, announcing the verdict in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) case, the judge convicted Nawaz Sharif and awarded him seven years’ imprisonment and fined him as well.
The defence counsel may apply for an attested copy of the judgment on Monday.
On December 24, Nawaz Sharif had given seven years of jail time in Al-Azizia Reference Case. Although, Accountability Court has acquitted Nawaz Sharif in Flagship Investment Reference.
According to details, Nawaz Sharif has been jailed for seven years by the Accountability Court and also fined Rs. 1.5 Billion in Al-Azizia Steel Mills Case.
During his first visit to Istantul after taking office, the prime minister will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and over all security situation of the region with Turkish leadership.
He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood.
Imran Khan will also address a business forum, and hold several meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors during his stay at Ankara.
The premier’s visit will reinforce the historic ties between the governments and the people of the two brotherly countries. The visit will also help to explore new vistas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of economic, trade and commercial relations.
According to PTI’s spokesperson PM Imran telephoned him and expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki.
Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh.On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation.
“The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked.
In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountability process was a part of democratic norms, and everybody was bound to accept the apex court’s judgement following submission of the report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on money laundering of multi-billion rupees.
The minister said Murad Ali Shah will remain the chief minister of Sindh and the news of a forward bloc are baseless.
He said people are not happy with the PTI government and wanted to get rid of. We can make a big upset in the province if our leadership allowed us, he added.
Shah said the chief minister is enjoying 100 percent confidence of his leadership, adding that we will submit our reply to the court of law and prove the JIT report wrong.
The minister said putting the name of PPP’s leadership on the ECL will be meant to block the development and progress of Sindh province.
According to sources, the meeting is deemed to discuss over the JIT Report and inclusion of names of prominent PPP Leaders in the Exit Control List (ECL).
The meeting is scheduled to commence in the evening at Bilawal House Karachi today. Sources stated that PPP Leaders will prepare certain strategies to counter the issues that may arise after prominent party leaders were made part of ECL.
Also, they’ll prepare a reply to the JIT report submitted in Supreme Court regarding the infamous Mega Money Laundering Scam.
PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari himself will be chairing the session where central and provincial leaders will be taking part in the session.
Legal experts have also been summoned in the special meeting held today at Bilawal House Karachi. Big decisions are expected to be made in today’s meeting of Pakistan People’s Party.
Earlier on December 28, the federal government released a list of 172 suspects whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The PTI led Government put the names of all 172 accused in multi-billion rupee fake accounts scam on the exit control list. The list includes Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto, CM Murad Ali Shah and several Sindh ministers.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, Shah said Prime Minister Imran Khan is creating uncertainty and a crisis situation in the country. “He [Imran Khan] has done nothing except arrest politicians. He is being asked to do things which no other politician would do.”
Responding to a question regarding Bilawal’s arrest, Shah said that a lot of courage is needed to arrest him. “It is not possible to arrest him but nothing certain can be said about this government.”
"There is no need for in-house change in Sindh because the cases have been made on the bases of assumptions and it is not possible to impose governor’s rule in the province,” the senior PPP leader said. “There is no place for it in the constitution. Governor rule can only be imposed through martial law.”
The former opposition leader in National Assembly added that enforcing governor's rule will not be any better for the country. The constitution provides a guarantee of a strong federation and the country's security would be in jeopardy if the constitution is altered, he pointed out.
Shah further said that efforts are being made to bring a one-party system in the country. “It feels like the country is moving towards the imposition of civilian martial law. The way politics is being done nowadays it seems like one party is being strengthened while others are being weakened,” he added.
The PPP leader claimed that Imran Khan did not come into power through the public's mandate but was brought into power and that everyone is aware of how he came into power.
“Imran Khan is trying to hide his incompetence through frivolous activities. He [Imran] does not want anyone to question him about the promises he made."
Speaking to different delegations at his office, Khan said that the people who looted Sindh will have to be accountable and the PPP president Asif Ali Zardari will fail in his attempt to play the 'Sindh card'.
The PTI leader said that those who had the penchant to level accusations against others have been exposed in front of the people of Pakistan.
"Rather than giving answers on the JIT findings they are hiding away," he said.
Khan sarcastically remarked that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif should be happy that his 'Ali baba and forty thieves' are being taken into account. The Sharif family should prepare a barrack for Zardari now, he added.
The PTI minister’s remarks came a day before Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to meet the party leaders amid reports of the governor's rule in the province.
The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
The mobile application will provide services like complaint handling, track and trace, e-commerce, delivery, parcel collect, complaints, tariff, post office locations, postcodes and all relevant information about postal services.
Highlighting accessibility of Pakistan Post with its staff strength, footprints and over a century old legacy and credibility, the federal minister said, “Our postmen visit almost every household of the country, including areas beyond anyone's reach.”
Saeed announced that a pilot project for microfinance loan disbursement will be launched through Pakistan Post.
The department also intends to enter the e-commerce business, he added.
“Pakistan Post has the capacity and commitment to deliver for online vendors for their cash on delivery products with proof of delivery and prompt reconciliation of their payments. Many international web portal operators have shown their interest to enter into the Pakistani market with Pakistan Post as their delivery partner,” Saeed said.
The minister said Pakistan Post was also targeting the parcel export market worth $4 billion, which was currently catered to by the local and international private couriers at exorbitant rates.
The department has made necessary arrangements to target the market with a commitment to deliver internationally in 72 hours and the project would be formally inaugurated by January 15, Saeed added.
Pakistan Post, he said, was also entering into the country's logistics market, which at present was worth $34.2 billion and was growing at a rate of more than 18% per annum.
He said Pakistan Post was expecting up to $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on public-private partnership model for its capacity building in the logistics sector.
“We have almost finalised the details of the agreement with Saudi Arabia at the technical level,” the source said, adding that the remaining issues will be sorted out by the second week of January.
Once the draft has been agreed at the technical level, it will be signed by the ministers of both countries.
The first meeting on the deal at the technical level was held in Islamabad in October.
As per proposed agreement, Pakistan will receive up to $3 billion worth of oil with payment deferred for 365 days in the first year of the agreement in 2018.
The Saudi Fund for Development will act as a third party in the agreement.
How the deal works
Pakistan based refineries will place orders with Saudi Aramco, government owned company for supplying crude oil.
Pakistan has a long term contract with Aramco for supplying 110,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Of these, Pak Arab Refinery Ltd (Parco) has a quota of 60,000bpd while the remaining quota of 50,000bpd is allocated to National Refinery Limited (NRL).
Both Parco and NRL will place orders for import with Aramco.
The Saudi Development Fund will pay in dollars to Aramco.
However, these refineries will deposit an equivalent amount in Pak rupee with State Bank (SBP) here in Pakistan.
The SBP will begin repayments to the Saudi Development Fund 12 months later, with monthly payments.
For example, the January 2019 payment will be made in January 2020.
This arrangement will be in place for a period of three years, with oil imports worth $9bn.
Saudi Arabia had earlier extended a similar special package to Pakistan soon after the nuclear tests of 1998, following which the country faced international sanctions.
Between 1998 and 2002, Pakistan received $3.5bn (Rs190bn at the exchange rate at that time) worth of oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payment, a major part of which was converted into grant and never repaid.
Deferred oil facility with UAE
According to the source, talks with UAE government are in an advanced stage for a similar agreement of up to $3bn. The conditions attached to deal will be similar to those agreed with Saudi Arabia.
Currently, Pakistan based refineries are importing crude and petroleum products from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) under a long-term contract.
The quantum of imports stands at 75,000bpd.
However, in case of extra demand, Pakistan can also import oil through open tender from UAE.
As per the agreed contract, Parco imports 39,000bpd crude oil, followed by 29,000bpd by Pakistan Refinery Ltd and 6,500bpd by NRL.
According to the source, the UAE government has not yet nominated a third party for the payment to Adnoc.
However, it is expected to finalise such an arrangement next month, according to the finance ministry official.
At the moment, no formal agreement on deferred oil facility with UAE has yet been exchanged.
In the year 2017-18, Pakistan’s fuel imports both oil and LNG reached to $16bn despite fall in oil prices owing to rising consumption in the transport sector.
The overall, liquid foreign currency reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $14,017.8 million.
Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,560.5m.
Reportedly, he spoke to the media during his visit to Layari area of Karachi.
“Those who are talking about making a forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly should be reminded that their government has a lead of only four votes in the parliament,” he said.
He termed the results of 2018 General Elections as false and ‘stolen’, and claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government could not resolve core issues of the general public in the first five months of its tenure, rather it has triggered ‘tsunami’ in the country.
“How can you change chief minister of Sindh?” he asked, adding that inquiries were also being conducted against Prime Minister Imran Khan and KP’s chief minister, so they should have also been ousted from power.
“PPP has already faced such cases in the past,” he said, adding that the party was not afraid of these tactics.
He further lamented the federal government, and asserted that the PTI could not form government in Sindh through democratic norms.
"Why is India stealing our water?" the Justice Nisar enquired, asserting, "We will not let India steal Pakistan's water."
He added that the court would "not allow water to be stolen from poor farmers from the Abasia Link Canal."
He explained that stealing water from them was "synonymous to sucking their blood".
The chief justice asked if the Punjab government was aware of whether India was stealing water from the Ravi river, and if so, what steps had been taken to remedy the situation.
The secretary, Murtaza, replied that water was not being stolen by India, to which the chief justice ordered that an operation be conducted by the Irrigation Department and police against those who steal water.
"We will not let anyone be exploited. Cases should be registered against those who steal water in Pakistan," Justice Nisar thundered, adding that Murtaza should tell those in power that this was the top judge's warning.
