Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Order to exhume Aamir Liaquat’s body suspended

Order to exhume Aamir Liaquat’s body suspended

on June 22, 2022 0 Comment
Aamir Liaquat
Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday suspended the orders for the exhumation of famous televangelist Aamir Liaquat Hussain's body for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death.

Deceased TV host's children had approached the SHC against the orders issued by a judicial magistrate in Karachi.

The judicial magistrate (East) on Saturday approved a petition seeking the autopsy of the deceased anchorperson, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence earlier this month.

Hussain's estranged family members, who came only for his last rites, decided to challenge the magistrate's orders in the SHC.

During the hearing, petitioners’ counsel Zia Awan maintained that the judicial magistrate hastily issued the order over a random citizen’s plea seeking exhumation and postmortem while Hussain’s family was never in its favour.

 “The plea was a publicity stunt over which the family’s stance wasn’t heard properly,” Awan stated.

Accepting the plea against the exhumation of Hussain’s body, the court issued stay against judicial magistrate's order. It also issued notices to Abdul Ahad — the petitioner of the plea seeking an autopsy and other respondents of the case — directing the parties to submit their replies at the next hearing.

The exhumation was scheduled to take place tomorrow morning (June 23), a notification issued by the Sindh health department said on Tuesday. A six-member medical board has been formed for the autopsy. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed will head the board.

Hussain's first wife, Dr Bushra Iqbal has been opposing the postmortem since his death. Responding to the order, Bushra had raised several questions about performing an autopsy on Hussain.

She urged fans to be vocal in opposing the autopsy as it "is a painful procedure for dead people and Islam doesn’t allow it".



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At least 280 perish as earthquake jolts Afghanistan

At least 280 perish as earthquake jolts Afghanistan

on June 22, 2022 0 Comment
Earthquake jolts Afghanistan
An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 killed at least 280 people in Afghanistan early on Wednesday, officials said, adding that hundreds of people were injured and the toll was likely to rise as information trickled in from remote mountain villages.

The quake struck about 44 km (27 miles) from the city of Khost, near the Pakistani border, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGC) said.

"Strong and long jolts," a resident of the Afghan capital, Kabul, posted on the website of the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

"It was strong," said a resident of the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Photographs on Afghan media showed houses reduced to rubble and bodies covered in blankets on the ground. The EMSC put the magnitude at 6.1 though the USGC said it was 5.9.

Most of the confirmed deaths were in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika, where 255 people had been killed and more than 200 injured, said interior ministry official Salahuddin Ayubi.

In Khost province, 25 people had been killed and 90 taken to hospital, he said.

The foreign ministry of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed condolences over the lives lost in the earthquake. The Prime Minister said that that "relevant authorities are working to support Afghanistan in this time of need.

 



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Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Rupee finally snapped its losing streak against the dollar

Rupee finally snapped its losing streak against the dollar

on June 21, 2022 0 Comment
Rupee finally snapped its losing streak against the dollar
The rupee finally snapped its losing streak against the dollar on Wednesday, gaining Rs1.80 in early morning interbank market a day after the government secured the much-anticipated deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the rupee appreciated to Rs210 against the dollar from Tuesday's close of Rs211.80. Yesterday, the greenback was at an all-time high, appreciating by a sharp Rs2.

The development comes after weeks of persistent declines in the rupee's value, which has been largely attributed to the country's rising import bill and depleting foreign exchange reserves.

Zafar Paracha, general secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, credited the rupee's recovery to the good news related to the IMF deal. "Hopefully, once the deal is finalised by the end of this week, it will pave way for loan from China and other financial institutions."

 



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Pakistan strongly condemns killing of Kashmiri youths by Indian forces

Pakistan strongly condemns killing of Kashmiri youths by Indian forces

on June 21, 2022 0 Comment
Pakistan strongly condemns killing of Kashmiri youths by Indian forces
Pakistan strongly condemned on Wednesday the extrajudicial killing of four more Kashmiri youths and termed it a result of "continuing state terrorism by Indian occupational forces", a statement from the Foreign Office read.

The statement highlighted that since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, more than 636 Kashmiris have embraced martyrdom in fake encounters and so-called cordon-and-search operations. This year alone, 113 extrajudicial killings of Kashmiris have been recorded.

The FO further stated that the intensified military crackdown and rising numbers of extrajudicial killings in IIOJK were part of the extremist anti-Muslim designs of the Hindutva inspired BJP-RSS combine in India.

“Ironically, Kashmiri youth have been a specific target of the 900,000 strong Indian military occupation force stationed in the IIOJK,” said the FO.

The FO denounced the use of brutal force against Kashmiris and said, “extrajudicial killings, custodial torture and deaths, forced disappearances, incarceration of Kashmiri leadership an youth and other methods of subjugation have failed in the past and will not succeed in the future.”

It also highlighted that through a dossier unveiled last year, Pakistan provided the world "incontrovertible evidence of the gross and systemic oppression and human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces in the IIOJK".

The FO once again reiterated its stance on Kashmir regarding a call for investigation of extrajudicial killings by establishing an Independent Commission of Inquiry as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its Kashmir reports of 2018 and 2019.

“Pakistan also urges the international community to hold India responsible for its brazen suppression of innocent Kashmiris and play its due role in ensuring a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” the statement read.



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IMF agrees with the budget targets of Pakistan

IMF agrees with the budget targets of Pakistan

on June 21, 2022 0 Comment
IMF agrees with the budget targets of Pakistan
An agreement has been reached between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the talks between the IMF and Pakistan have been successful and the IMF has agreed on the steps taken by Pakistan for the budget for the next financial year.

Sources in the Ministry of Finance said that the IMF also agrees with the budget targets of Pakistan after which the chances of resumption of IMF loan program have become bright.

Under the loan program, Pakistan will get one billion dollars immediately.

According to government sources, a declaration on the agreement will be issued soon.



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Monday, June 20, 2022

PM summons fedral cabinet meeting today

PM summons fedral cabinet meeting today

on June 20, 2022 0 Comment
Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the federal cabinet meeting to be held today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to discuss economic and political situation in the country

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the federal cabinet meeting to be held at the Prime Minister’s office. The cabinet will discuss a seven-point agenda during the meeting.

According to sources, a decision regarding the prices of medicines is part of the agenda of the cabinet meeting while the cabinet will also ratify the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).



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No candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons:Ata Tarar

No candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons:Ata Tarar

on June 20, 2022 0 Comment
Ata Tarar
Punjab Home Minister Ata Tarar has vowed to ensure law and order situation during by-elections in the province, saying that no candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons

According to details, the provincial minister chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Home Affairs on the law and order situation at Civil Secretariat Lahore.

The meeting was attended by Law Minister Malik Ahmed Khan, Health Minister Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary Home, Inspector-General (IG) Punjab and CCPO Lahore.

Speaking during the meeting, Ata Tarar said in the light of the Election Commission’s Code of Conduct, that non-discriminatory action should be taken against those who carry weapons.

The minister said all candidates contesting the by-elections will be provided police security by the Punjab government and no one will be allowed to carry personal security and weapons during the election campaign.

Atta Tarar further said that the increase in incidents of abuse of women and children was alarming, adding that such incidents were unacceptable and the culprits should be arrested soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that before the by-elections, several people were injured in an exchange of fire between workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The ECP has announced the schedule for election on 20 provincial seats vacated after defecting MPAs of the PTI were de-seated. The candidates will be announced as election symbols on June 24, while polling will be held on July 17.

The ECP had de-seated 25 dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs who voted for PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab chief minister’s election



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Noam Chomsky urges PM Shehbaz to curb 'human rights violations in Pakistan'

Noam Chomsky urges PM Shehbaz to curb 'human rights violations in Pakistan'

on June 20, 2022 0 Comment
Noam Chomsky
After the ousting of the PTI administration, a number of academics, including Noam Chomsky, have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to take action against the "deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan".

Taking to Twitter, former prime minister Imran Khan said that "Chomsky — one of world's most respected intellectuals — has added his voice to state oppression by this cabal of crooks foisted on Pak by US backed regime change conspiracy."

"Our democratic rights have been brutally violated, esp during our Haqiqi Azadi March," he added.

According to a letter dated May 26, "In the last two months, there has been an alarming rise in human rights violations in Pakistan, including suppression of freedom of speech; harassment and intimidation of journalists, social media users and political activists; [and] making of fake blasphemy cases against political rivals."

It also raised alarm over the detention of political opponents, including the former minister of human rights Shireen Mazari, and other political activists for their social media posts. The letter described raids and cases against journalists and politicians including "hacked, stolen, and seized electronic devices."

The academics also brought up the subject of blasphemy cases filed against PTI's leadership following an incident at Masjid Nabwi (SAW) earlier in the year. It was asserted that the administration was abusing blasphemy laws to engage in a "political vendetta against rivals."

The letter noted that troubling occurrences contravene the minimum criteria of democratic administration, the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"We strongly urge the relevant Pakistani authorities to uphold and protect fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion or belief."



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Crypto firms under pressure as bitcoin, ethereum fall further

Crypto firms under pressure as bitcoin, ethereum fall further

on June 20, 2022 0 Comment
Crypto
The cryptocurrency industry was on edge on Monday morning as investors feared contagion from problems at major crypto players could unleash a major shakeout if not contained.

Bitcoin which has lost 57 per cent so far this year and 37pc this month, fell below $20,000 over the weekend for the first time since December 2020. The level is of symbolic significance, as it was roughly the peak of the 2017 cycle.

The price fall follows difficulties at several major industry players, while further declines could have a knock-on effect as other crypto investors are forced to sell their holdings to meet margin calls and cover losses.

Crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital is exploring its options, including the sale of assets and a bailout by another firm, its founders told the Wall Street Journal in a story published on Friday, the same day Asia-focused crypto lender Babel Finance said it would suspend withdrawals.

US based lender Celsius Network earlier this month said it would suspend withdrawals, and many of the industry's recent problems can be traced back to the spectacular collapse of so-called stablecoin TerraUSD in May.

Bitcoin was trading on either side of $20,000 on Monday, while no.2 token ether was at $1,075, having dipped below its own symbolic level of $1,000 over the weekend.

 “If the market goes higher, everyone breathes a sigh of relief, things will get refinanced, people will raise equity, and all of the risk will dissipate. But if we move much lower from here, I think it could be a total shitstorm,” said Adam Farthing, chief risk officer for Japan at crypto liquidity provider B2C2.

 “There is a lot of credit being withdrawn from the system and if lenders have to absorb losses from Celsius and Three Arrows, they will reduce the size of their future loan books which means that the entire amount of credit available in the crypto ecosystem is much reduced.

 “It feels very like 2008 to me in terms of how there could be a domino effect of bankruptcies and liquidations,” Farthing said.

To be sure, the developments in crypto have coincided with an equities slide, as US stocks suffered their biggest weekly percentage decline in two years on fears of rising interest rates and the growing likelihood of recession.

The bitcoin price has tended to move in a roughly similar manner to other risk assets such as tech stocks.



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