Security forces kill 5 militants in Kalash shootout

KALASH: Five militants were killed on Wednesday in an shootout with security forces in Chitral?s Kalash valley, sources said.

According to sources, militants opened fire on security forces in Chitral?s Astoi area, upon which the security forces retaliated to thwart the onslaught.  

The dead bodies of the slain terrorists were shifted to Bamburet hospital.

On Sunday, militants had opened fire on local shepherds which had killed two shepherds in the same area.

The sources had said that two Kalash shepherds were grazing sheep in Ghari, when they were attacked by a group of 30 militants who crossed over to Pakistan from Nuristan province of Afghanistan.

The shepherds reportedly had opened fire on the militants and the exchange of firing took place for a long time. However, the shepherds had run out of ammunition and were overpowered by the militants.

Militants had taken more than 400 goats with them. Villagers had found the throat-cut bodies of the shepherds near the border area. The sources had said the militants were heavily armed. The police and personnel of the Chitral Levies and other law-enforcement agencies had rushed to the area after the incident.

In wake of the Sunday?s incident, a former Member National Assembly (MNA) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali had asked the government to ensure border security to avoid similar incidents.

He had asked the government to recruit at least 300 more border police personnel, particularly from the Kalash tribe, for deployment along the border with Afghanistan to secure the borders and protect the Kalash people.

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Security forces kill 5 militants in Kalash shootout

KALASH: Five militants were killed on Wednesday in a shootout with security forces in Chitral’s Kalash valley, sources said.

According to sources, militants opened fire on security forces in Chitral’s Astoi area, upon which the security forces retaliated to thwart the onslaught.  

The dead bodies of the slain militants were shifted to Bamburet hospital, sources added.

On Sunday, militants had opened fire on local shepherds which had killed two shepherds in the same area.

The sources had said that two Kalash shepherds were grazing sheep in Ghari, when they were attacked by a group of 30 militants who crossed over to Pakistan from Nuristan province of Afghanistan.

The shepherds reportedly had opened fire on the militants and the exchange of firing took place for a long time. However, the shepherds had run out of ammunition and were overpowered by the militants.

Militants had taken more than 400 goats with them. Villagers had found the throat-cut bodies of the shepherds near the border area. The sources had said the militants were heavily armed. The police and personnel of the Chitral Levies and other law-enforcement agencies had rushed to the area after the incident.

In wake of the Sunday’s incident, a former Member National Assembly (MNA) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali had asked the government to ensure border security to avoid similar incidents.

He had asked the government to recruit at least 300 more border police personnel, particularly from the Kalash tribe, for deployment along the border with Afghanistan to secure the borders and protect the Kalash people.

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PTI issues white paper on governance in Punjab

LAHORE: Former organiser Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Ch Sarwar has issued a white paper on the state of governance and human rights in Punjab.

In the paper issued on Tuesday, Sarwar deplored the worst governance in the province and said every segment of society was protesting against the government policies which were big question mark on the so-called experienced team of the PML-N. Quoting statistics from the white paper, he said more than 10,000 incidents of crime were reported from the province every day including 80 casualties daily.

In the past few months, 113 persons including women committed suicides due to poverty, inflation, unemployment and other similar reasons while more than 170 children were kidnapped from the capital city Lahore alone in this period. He stated that nearly 40,000 absconders were roaming free in the province as the police had failed to arrest them.

Talking about the health sector, he revealed, there was one bed for two to three patients in the major healthcare establishments like Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore General Hospital, Mayo Hospital and Jinnah Hospital while the province had no full time health minister.

The white paper stated that per kg price of sugar rose up to eight rupees while the prices of fruits and vegetables has also registered surge. More than 16 people were electrocuted in Lahore due to open electricity wires while the power outages for ten to twelve hours per day were a norm throughout the province. The mega corruption scandals have become hallmark of the ruling party.

It also said Mall Road has become “Ehtejaj Road” as the government was failing the province badly in every sector. The data collected from the media reports revealed that more than a thousand protests were lodged during one month period while 37 people lost their lives due to lack of basic facilities in hospitals and nine thousand women died due to pregnancy related problems. The government and the Drug Regulatory Authority have also failed in curbing the menace of spurious drugs in the markets which claim several innocent lives.

The total volume of loans on Punjab has increased from 500 billion while the basic amenities like clean drinking water, law and order, electricity, education and health were missing or out of reach for the public. The government has failed to launch Ashiana Housing Scheme and could not hold its ballot in July despite repeated deadlines.

The white paper revealed that the government was performing poorly in the education sector as well. More than one crore children were still out of schools and two million youth were forced to become labourers instead of students. The law and order has deteriorated so much that nobody is safe in the province especially in Lahore where more than 70 incidents of rape and sexual abuse were reported in one month. The law enforcement agencies were unable to control the rate of crime throughout the province.

In these times of worst governance, the government was focusing on mega projects like Orange Train instead of providing relief in health and education sectors, said Sarwar in the white paper.

- Originally appeared in The News

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PTI issues white paper on governance in Punjab

LAHORE: Former organiser Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Ch Sarwar has issued a white paper on the state of governance and human rights in Punjab.

In the paper issued on Tuesday, Sarwar deplored the worst governance in the province and said every segment of society was protesting against the government policies which were big question mark on the so-called experienced team of the PML-N. Quoting statistics from the white paper, he said more than 10,000 incidents of crime were reported from the province every day including 80 casualties daily.

In the past few months, 113 persons including women committed suicides due to poverty, inflation, unemployment and other similar reasons while more than 170 children were kidnapped from the capital city Lahore alone in this period. He stated that nearly 40,000 absconders were roaming free in the province as the police had failed to arrest them.

Talking about the health sector, he revealed, there was one bed for two to three patients in the major healthcare establishments like Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore General Hospital, Mayo Hospital and Jinnah Hospital while the province had no full time health minister.

The white paper stated that per kg price of sugar rose up to eight rupees while the prices of fruits and vegetables has also registered surge. More than 16 people were electrocuted in Lahore due to open electricity wires while the power outages for ten to twelve hours per day were a norm throughout the province. The mega corruption scandals have become hallmark of the ruling party.

It also said Mall Road has become ?Ehtejaj Road? as the government was failing the province badly in every sector. The data collected from the media reports revealed that more than a thousand protests were lodged during one month period while 37 people lost their lives due to lack of basic facilities in hospitals and nine thousand women died due to pregnancy related problems. The government and the Drug Regulatory Authority have also failed in curbing the menace of spurious drugs in the markets which claim several innocent lives.

The total volume of loans on Punjab has increased from 500 billion while the basic amenities like clean drinking water, law and order, electricity, education and health were missing or out of reach for the public. The government has failed to launch Ashiana Housing Scheme and could not hold its ballot in July despite repeated deadlines.

The white paper revealed that the government was performing poorly in the education sector as well. More than one crore children were still out of schools and two million youth were forced to become labourers instead of students. The law and order has deteriorated so much that nobody is safe in the province especially in Lahore where more than 70 incidents of rape and sexual abuse were reported in one month. The law enforcement agencies were unable to control the rate of crime throughout the province.

In these times of worst governance, the government was focusing on mega projects like Orange Train instead of providing relief in health and education sectors, said Sarwar in the white paper.

- Originally appeared in The News

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Sindh?s response sought on Dr Asim?s leaked video

ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday asked the Sindh government to submit a detailed report with regard to the agency in whose custody the PPP leader Dr. Asim Hussain was when his video was made.

The sub-committee met here with its convener Imran Leghari of the PPP in the chair.The panel had detailed deliberations on the leaked video of Dr. Asim and other issues.

Imran Leghari raised a number of questions on the leaked video issue: how and who made a video of Dr. Asim and in whose custody was he at that time? Why are such videos made at all? Is it legal or illegal to make such videos? And are these videos needed in a court of law?

The committee members insisted that the Sindh government should explain its position on the matter. PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry asked if the Sindh government had complained to Pemra or any other institution about the leaked video.

The panel has sought a report by August 20. On this, a representative of the provincial government informed the forum guardedly that investigation was underway on this count.

Pemra Chairman Absar Alam said a ban on the running of such videos could not be clamped, as the media had the right to have access to information. However, it could be seen what exactly were the analysis and comments made on the content.

The committee members were of the view that they fully respected the freedom of expression but when a matter was in a court of law, should the media intervene in this way?

Talal Chaudhry praised the role of Pemra and its chairman in the restoration of Geo to its original number and emphasised equal treatment to all TV channels.

NNI adds: Pemra also presented a list of TV channels that had aired the video. Pemra officials told Imran Zafar Leghari that 20 TV channels had broadcast the leaked video. The committee also directed the Additional IG Sindh to investigate and submit a report.

- Originally appeared in The News

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Sindh?s response sought on Dr Asim?s leaked video

ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the National Assembly?s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday asked the Sindh government to submit a detailed report with regard to the agency in whose custody the PPP leader Dr. Asim Hussain was when his video was made.

The sub-committee met here with its convener Imran Leghari of the PPP in the chair.The panel had detailed deliberations on the leaked video of Dr. Asim and other issues.

Imran Leghari raised a number of questions on the leaked video issue: how and who made a video of Dr. Asim and in whose custody was he at that time? Why are such videos made at all? Is it legal or illegal to make such videos? And are these videos needed in a court of law?

The committee members insisted that the Sindh government should explain its position on the matter. PML-N?s Talal Chaudhry asked if the Sindh government had complained to Pemra or any other institution about the leaked video.

The panel has sought a report by August 20. On this, a representative of the provincial government informed the forum guardedly that investigation was underway on this count.

Pemra Chairman Absar Alam said a ban on the running of such videos could not be clamped, as the media had the right to have access to information. However, it could be seen what exactly were the analysis and comments made on the content.

The committee members were of the view that they fully respected the freedom of expression but when a matter was in a court of law, should the media intervene in this way?

Talal Chaudhry praised the role of Pemra and its chairman in the restoration of Geo to its original number and emphasised equal treatment to all TV channels.

NNI adds: Pemra also presented a list of TV channels that had aired the video. Pemra officials told Imran Zafar Leghari that 20 TV channels had broadcast the leaked video. The committee also directed the Additional IG Sindh to investigate and submit a report.

- Originally appeared in The News

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Teenager goes missing in Lahore

LAHORE: A teenage boy went missing in Lahore on Tuesday despite lofty claims by authorities of action against child kidnappings in the provincial capital and other parts of the province.

Amaan Qamar, 13, went out of his home in Samnabad on Tuesday evening, but has since been missing, family said. The relatives of the boy have lodged a missing complaint with local police.

Officials say efforts are being made to trace the boy.

A three-year-old girl was also found missing from Anarkali area on Monday. The girl, Jannat Hayat, had gone shopping with her father, police said.

A wave of anxiety has gripped the region following kidnapping of 600 children from Lahore and other parts of Punjab within a short span of time.

The Supreme Court (SC) is currently hearing a suo motu case with regard to surge in incidents of child kidnapping the province.

More than a dozen children were reported missing from Badami Baagh alone, in the past few months.

The police, meanwhile, maintain that not all of the missing children were kidnapped.

Earlier, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Shahzada Sultan, citing statistics, had said that during 2015 kidnapping cases of 1,134 children were registered in Punjab, of whom 1,093 were recovered.

"This year, 681 cases have been registered, while 640 children have already been recovered," he stated.

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Teenager goes missing in Lahore

LAHORE: A teenage boy went missing in Lahore on Tuesday despite lofty claims by authorities of action against child kidnappings in the provincial capital and other parts of the province.

Amaan Qamar, 13, went out of his home in Samnabad on Tuesday evening, but has since been missing, family said. The relatives of the boy have lodged a missing complaint with local police.

Officials say efforts are being made to trace the boy.

A three-year-old girl was also found missing from Anarkali area on Monday. The girl, Jannat Hayat, had gone shopping with her father, police said.

A wave of anxiety has gripped the region following kidnapping of 600 children from Lahore and other parts of Punjab within a short span of time.

The Supreme Court (SC) is currently hearing a suo motu case with regard to surge in incidents of child kidnapping the province.

More than a dozen children were reported missing from Badami Baagh alone, in the past few months.

The police, meanwhile, maintain that not all of the missing children were kidnapped.

Earlier, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Shahzada Sultan, citing statistics, had said that during 2015 kidnapping cases of 1,134 children were registered in Punjab, of whom 1,093 were recovered.

"This year, 681 cases have been registered, while 640 children have already been recovered," he stated.

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Saarc interior ministers moot kicks off in Islamabad today

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) interior ministers will kick off in Islamabad today with regional affairs, terrorism, prevention of drugs and human trafficking on its agenda.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will open the two-day Saarc interior ministers meeting at a local five star hotel which is expected to be attended by interior ministers from all Saarc states except for Bangladesh. Dhaka, however, will be represented by senior diplomats and officials.

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the conference. He, however, will not hold a one-on-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

"There is no such proposal (for a bilateral meeting)," a spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup, had said while confirming Singh's visit to Islamabad a few days ago.

The meeting of interior ministers comes as protests continue in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) amid killing of over 50 innocent Kashmiri youth at the hands of state forces.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan responded to the statement by New Delhi saying that he too is not 'anxious' to hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart.

The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between member states, yet the Pak-India tension and especially the neighboring arch-rival's traditional stubbornness on Kashmir issue is deemed by many as an impediment to it.

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Saarc interior ministers moot kicks off in Islamabad today

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) interior ministers will kick off in Islamabad today with regional affairs, terrorism, prevention of drugs and human trafficking on its agenda.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will open the two-day Saarc interior ministers meeting at a local five star hotel which is expected to be attended by interior ministers from all Saarc states except for Bangladesh. Dhaka, however, will be represented by senior diplomats and officials.

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the conference. He, however, will not hold a one-on-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

"There is no such proposal (for a bilateral meeting)," a spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup, had said while confirming Singh's visit to Islamabad a few days ago.

The meeting of interior ministers comes as protests continue in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) amid killing of over 50 innocent Kashmiri youth at the hands of state forces.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan responded to the statement by New Delhi saying that he too is not 'anxious' to hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart.

The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The platform aims to boost ties and cooperation between member states, yet the Pak-India tension and especially the neighboring arch-rival's traditional stubbornness on Kashmir issue is deemed by many as an impediment to it.

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Car bomb targets security forces in Libya's Benghazi, kills 22: sources

BENGHAZI: A car bomb targeting security forces in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed 22 people and wounded 20 on Tuesday, a spokesman for the forces and medical officials said.

The blast occurred in a residential area in the Guwarsha district, the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libya's eastern government and an alliance of opponents.

The alliance, the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, claimed responsibility for the blast, according to a statement posted on media sites linked to the group.

Benghazi has been plagued by violence since eastern commander Khalifa Haftar launched a campaign against the Shura Council two years ago.

His forces have advanced in several areas in recent months, but have not gained full control of the city.

There have been occasional car bombings, though the toll from Tuesday's blast was unusually high.

The attack targeted a gathering of the special forces unit of Haftar's forces, known as the Libyan National Army (LNA), forces spokesman Fadel al-Hassi said. A Reuters witness said the powerful explosion reduced a three-story building to rubble.

Haftar's forces are allied to a government that has been based in eastern Libya since 2014, when armed groups set up a rival administration in the capital, Tripoli.

A U.N.-backed government moved into Tripoli earlier this year, but Haftar and the eastern government have so far rejected it.

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FBR notifies new prices for real estate in Karachi

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday notified newly set prices of real estate in Karachi.

The revenue authority divided the metropolis in nine categories comprising 193 areas and issued a list of prices of immovable property. The classification was made for residential, commercial and industrial property, and flats.

To evaluate the property, 49 rates were fixed on the whole for residential and commercial property in different categories. The FBR assigned different prices for residential plots and already constructed houses.

The areas falling in category 'A-One' included Bath Island, Clifton, Defense Phase 1, 2, 3 and 5, Dhoraji, Garden East and KDA. The prices for residential and commercial plots in A-One category were fixed as Rs 35,000 and Rs 100,000 per square yard respectively.

In category 'One', prices of residential plots were set as Rs 25,000 per square yard. The category encompasses Abdullah Haroon Road, Burns Road, Bombay Bazar, and Defense Phase 4 and 6.

Category 'Two' residential plots were evaluated at Rs 12,000 per square yard in areas including Federal B Area, Gulshan Iqbal, Jacob Lines and Jooria Bazar.

Prices of commercial plots in Karachi were set at Rs 100,000, while that of already constructed commercial plaza at Rs 67,500 per square yard.

The FBR fixed Rs 900 per square yard price of property in low-cost areas of the city which included Muhajir Colony, Manghopir Road, Surjani Town.

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FBR notifies new prices for real estate in Karachi

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday notified newly set prices of real estate in Karachi.

The revenue authority divided the metropolis in nine categories comprising 193 areas and issued a list of prices of immovable property. The classification was made for residential, commercial and industrial property, and flats.

To evaluate the property, 49 rates were fixed on the whole for residential and commercial property in different categories. The FBR assigned different prices for residential plots and already constructed houses.

The areas falling in category 'A-One' included Bath Island, Clifton, Defense Phase 1, 2, 3 and 5, Dhoraji, Garden East and KDA. The prices for residential and commercial plots in A-One category were fixed as Rs 35,000 and Rs 100,000 per square yard respectively.

In category 'One', prices of residential plots were set as Rs 25,000 per square yard. The category encompasses Abdullah Haroon Road, Burns Road, Bombay Bazar, and Defense Phase 4 and 6.

Category 'Two' residential plots were evaluated at Rs 12,000 per square yard in areas including Federal B Area, Gulshan Iqbal, Jacob Lines and Jooria Bazar.

Prices of commercial plots in Karachi were set at Rs 100,000, while that of already constructed commercial plaza at Rs 67,500 per square yard.

The FBR fixed Rs 900 per square yard price of property in low-cost areas of the city which included Muhajir Colony, Manghopir Road, Surjani Town.

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Global heat, sea level hit record highs in 2015

MIAMI: Global heat, greenhouse gases and sea levels all climbed to record highs last year, making 2015 the worst in modern times across a range of key environmental indicators, international scientists said Tuesday.

A dire picture of the Earth?s health is painted in the State of the Climate report, a peer-reviewed 300-page tome that comes out once a year and is compiled by 450 scientists from around the world.

The record heat that the planet experienced last year was driven partially by global warming, and was exacerbated by the ocean heating trend known as El Nino, it said.

El Nino, which just ended in July, was one of the strongest the Earth has seen "since at least 1950," said the report, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information.

"This ?annual physical? of Earth?s climate system showed us that 2015?s climate was shaped both by long-term change and an El Nino event," said Thomas Karl, director of the NOAA division.

"Last year?s El Nino was a clear reminder of how short-term events can amplify the relative influence and impacts stemming from longer-term global warming trends."

New records

Major concentrations of greenhouse gases ? including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide ? are the by-products of fossil fuel burning.

All three "rose to new record high values during 2015," said the findings, based on tens of thousands of measurements from multiple independent datasets.

The annual average atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, reached 400.8 parts per million (ppm), surpassing 400 ppm for the first time, marking "the largest annual increase observed in the 58-year record."

On average globally, 2015?s CO2 level was 399.4 ppm, an increase of 2.2 ppm over 2014.

The report also confirmed NOAA and NASA?s finding that Earth?s average land and ocean surface temperatures warmed to record levels in 2015.

And global sea levels swelled to their highest point ever, about 70 millimeters (about 2.75 inches) higher than the 1993 average.

Sea level is creeping up gradually around the globe, averaging about 3.3 millimeters per year, said the report.

Some places in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean are seeing waters rise faster.

Even though the current pace may appear slow, experts warn that sea level rise will accelerate in the coming decades as glaciers and polar ice caps melt, putting millions of lives at risk in coastal communities around the world.

More extremes

More extreme weather was seen in 2015, too, with an above-normal rainy season prompting major floods in some parts of the world.

Meanwhile, areas in severe drought nearly doubled, from eight percent of the planet in 2014 to 14 percent in 2015.

The Arctic, which is considered particularly sensitive to climate change, continued to warm, and increasing temperatures led to thinner and smaller sea ice cover.

"The Arctic land surface temperature tied with 2007 and 2011 as the highest since records began in the early 20th century, representing a 2.8 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit) increase since that time," said the report.

Meanwhile the Antarctic was colder than average, and the influence of El Nino on atmospheric circulation helped shift sea ice cover "from record high levels in May to record low levels in August," it said.

Across the globe, alpine glaciers continued to retreat for the 36th year in a row.

June?s late spring snow cover in the northern hemisphere marked the second lowest in the 49-year satellite record.

Warming waters are also blamed for the severity of a widespread algal bloom last summer that stretched from central California to British Columbia, Canada, resulting in "significant impacts to marine life, coastal resources and the human communities that depend on these resources."

The Atlantic hurricane season was unusually mild for the second year in a row, largely due to El Nino, but tropical cyclones "were well above average overall," said the report.

There were 101 tropical cyclones across all ocean basins in 2015, well above the 1981-2010 average of 82 storms.

The eastern and central Pacific were roiled by 26 big storms, the most since 1992.

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Obama calls on Republicans to reject ?unfit? Trump

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Republicans to reject Donald Trump in some of his strongest comments yet about the party?s White House nominee, saying he is "woefully unprepared" and "unfit" to be president.

"This isn?t a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily and weekly where they are distancing themselves from statements he?s making," Obama said of the party?s top brass including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain.

"There has to be a point in which you say: ?This is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party.?"

Obama?s comments at a White House press conference came amid a roiling war of words between Trump and the father of a slain US soldier who rebuked him as having "sacrificed nothing."

Trump also has come under fire for remarks in a television interview in which he appeared not to be aware of Russia?s 2014 annexation of Crimea after its takeover from Ukraine.

"I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," Obama said. "I said so last week. He keeps proving it."

"The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn?t appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia means that he?s woefully unprepared to do this job."

"There has to come a point in which you say ?enough?," he said, in a comment directed at Republicans.

"The alternative is the entire party and the Republican party effectively endorses and validates the positions being articulated by Mr Trump. As I said in my speech last week, I don?t think that represents the views of a whole lot of Republicans out there."

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KMC issues health advisory for Congo virus ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

KARACHI: Beware! Thinking of going to the mandi (cattle market) to buy sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha? You could be putting yourself at risk of contracting the deadly Congo virus, which has claimed at least 35 patients in the country this year.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Medical and Health Services Department has issued a health advisory for prevention of the disease ahead of the Eid season.

According to the Senior Director of Medical and Health Services Dr Muhammad Ali Abbas, there is a serious need for proper medical check and inspection of animals before they are brought to the cattle markets in Karachi.

"There should be proper sanitation at the site of animal markets by concerned departments mainly livestock and veterinary. Public use insect repellents should be encouraged to save animals and ourselves from ticks", through which the disease is known to spread, he said.

"People who are going to visit cattle markets should, wear light colors, cover their hands and faces, and check their skin and clothing carefully for ticks," he cautioned.

In the advisory, the public are cautioned to keep the following in mind:

-          Maintain as little contact with animals as possible.

-          Wear gloves while inspecting the animals. Cover your face and body when near the animals.

-          Beware of ticks. Use insect repellants to keep them at bay. Don’t touch ticks with bare hands as its infected blood could cause the virus.

-          Wear gloves while slaughtering the animals.

-          Wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with animals and/or their blood.

-          Keep animals in well-ventilated sites.

-          Ensure that animals are inspected in places well away from populated city areas and by qualified veterinary doctors.

-          Maintain proper sanitation where you keep the animals. Dispose of the animals’ remnants safely.

-          Carry out fumigation in animal-keeping sites before, during and after Eid.

-          Cover stored water.

According to the advisory, serious outbreaks of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus have been reported in the past at hospitals treating CCHF patients. Hospital staff is therefore advised to take adequate precautions and observe adequate infection-control procedures.  Contaminated needles and equipment should be disposed of safely.

At least 35 cases of the Congo virus have been reported in the country this year. Six patients who contracted the Congo virus died during treatment, the National Institute of Health reported. At least 16 cases of the virus were reported at the NIH.

Symptoms of the virus include high fever and bleeding from the nose and ears.

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KMC issues health advisory for Congo virus ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

KARACHI: Beware! Thinking of going to the mandi (cattle market) to buy sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha? You could be putting yourself at risk of contracting the deadly Congo virus, which has claimed at least 35 patients in the country this year.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation?s Medical and Health Services Department has issued a health advisory for prevention of the disease ahead of the Eid season.

According to the Senior Director of Medical and Health Services Dr Muhammad Ali Abbas, there is a serious need for proper medical check and inspection of animals before they are brought to the cattle markets in Karachi.

"There should be proper sanitation at the site of animal markets by concerned departments mainly livestock and veterinary. Public use insect repellents should be encouraged to save animals and ourselves from ticks", through which the disease is known to spread, he said.

"People who are going to visit cattle markets should, wear light colors, cover their hands and faces, and check their skin and clothing carefully for ticks," he cautioned.

In the advisory, the public are cautioned to keep the following in mind:

-          Maintain as little contact with animals as possible.

-          Wear gloves while inspecting the animals. Cover your face and body when near the animals.

-          Beware of ticks. Use insect repellants to keep them at bay. Don?t touch ticks with bare hands as its infected blood could cause the virus.

-          Wear gloves while slaughtering the animals.

-          Wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with animals and/or their blood.

-          Keep animals in well-ventilated sites.

-          Ensure that animals are inspected in places well away from populated city areas and by qualified veterinary doctors.

-          Maintain proper sanitation where you keep the animals. Dispose of the animals? remnants safely.

-          Carry out fumigation in animal-keeping sites before, during and after Eid.

-          Cover stored water.

According to the advisory, serious outbreaks of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus have been reported in the past at hospitals treating CCHF patients. Hospital staff is therefore advised to take adequate precautions and observe adequate infection-control procedures.  Contaminated needles and equipment should be disposed of safely.

At least 35 cases of the Congo virus have been reported in the country this year. Six patients who contracted the Congo virus died during treatment, the National Institute of Health reported. At least 16 cases of the virus were reported at the NIH.

Symptoms of the virus include high fever and bleeding from the nose and ears.

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Misbah wants Pakistan to pull down England ?pillars?

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes knocking down England "pillars" Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side?s hopes of winning the third Test at Edgbaston.

England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 last time out at Old Trafford.

Between them, England captain Cook and vice-captain Root made 506 runs at Old Trafford in the second Test the hosts won by a huge margin of 330 runs.

"In every team, there are key players and at the moment those two are in really good form," said Misbah of Cook and Root at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

"If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it?s important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting.

"Psychologically, that can also give you an advantage and damage the opposition if you can get them early, because other (members of the England) batting line-up are struggling at the moment.

"That?s really important for us to just get them (Cook and Root) early and put them (England) under pressure."

James Vince has yet to make a fifty in his seven career Test innings this season and left-hander Gary Ballance is also searching for a big score following his surprise recall for Pakistan?s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord?s.

"Throughout my time as captain there?s always been something up for discussion and at the moment it?s the middle order," said Cook.

"Until the guys get good scores consistently that will be the case but they?re very good players and they got picked because of outstanding form for their counties.

Turning to number four Vince, opening batsman Cook added: "I like the way he plays. He?s got a couple of starts and the way he handled the whole situation in a different format in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a good indicator of how he can handle the pressure. He needs that score for his confidence and to get you guys (the press) off his back."

Pakistan?s home ?hurt?

Wednesday?s match will be the 500th Test played in England.

By contrast, Pakistan have been unable to play international cricket at home since an armed attack on Sri Lanka?s team bus in Lahore in 2009 made the country a ?no-go area? for major foreign sides.

Pakistan have since established a temporary ?home? in the UAE but Misbah said there was no substitute for playing in front of your own fans.

"It can really hurt your overall development as a cricketing nation (not playing at home)", the 42-year-old veteran skipper explained.

"Your youth can really be inspired if you are playing internationally back at home. Obviously, you can build more infrastructure.

"It?s one area where you can say we are really unlucky and we want international cricket back in Pakistan, just to help our youngsters and just to help cricket in Pakistan.

"It?s really difficult for the Pakistan Cricket Board and it can really hurt them financially also.

"You can see wherever the World Cups are, or international events, the whole scenario changes, it?s like a fever in that country for that sport. That?s what we have been really missing."

Asked if he felt it was safe for rival Test teams to tour Pakistan now, Misbah replied: "That (the security situation) has been improving a lot.

"The Pakistan government, the army, everybody is really working hard on that. Hopefully, it will be better in the coming future."

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Rangers 90-day detention powers no longer in effect: Murtaza WahabÂ

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser for Law, Murtaza Wahab, said Tuesday that special powers of Rangers to detain suspects for 90 days were no longer in effect as they had expired on June 14 this year.

Wahab said the federal government had got the law to detain suspects for 90 days passed by parliament on June 14, 2014 for two years which ended on June 14, 2016.

Under this bill, the paramilitary force had the powers to get 90-day remand of the suspect, he said.

He went on to say that the centre or the parliament had yet to pass any other bill regarding the special powers of Rangers, adding that until the new bill is passed, Rangers do not have any powers to get remand of suspects for 90 days.

The advisor also clarified that special policing powers of the paramilitary force are limited to Karachi only.

Read More

Saudi Arabia appoints princess to oversee women's sports

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has appointed a princess to oversee women's sports in the ultra-conservative kingdom, even as the country has doubled the number of female athletes representing it at the Olympics.

Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan was named head of the women's section at the General Authority for Sports, which acts as the kingdom's sports ministry, the official SPA news agency said.

It did not specify what her responsibilities would be.

Princess Reema is the daughter of the once-powerful Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who was the Saudi ambassador to Washington for 22 years until 2005. She was educated in the United States.

"I am honoured to serve my nation," SPA quoted Princess Reema as saying.

Women face significant obstacles to competing in sport in Saudi Arabia, where women have to cover from head to toe and are banned from driving.

Four Saudi female athletes are however taking part in the Olympics this year in Rio, where they arrived with seven Saudi men on Monday.

These sportswomen include marathon runner Sarah al-Attar, judoka Wujud Fahmi, fencer Lubna al-Omair and 100m runner Cariman Abu al-Jadail.

Both Attar and Fahmi were returning to the games after they became the country's first female Olympians in London four years ago.

In a first in 2014, a Saudi state school introduced sports for girls, after a call for lifting a ban on women in sports.

Saudi authorities shut down private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010, and women are effectively barred from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public.

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Misbah wants Pakistan to pull down England ?pillars?

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes knocking down England "pillars" Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side’s hopes of winning the third Test at Edgbaston.

England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 last time out at Old Trafford.

Between them, England captain Cook and vice-captain Root made 506 runs at Old Trafford in the second Test the hosts won by a huge margin of 330 runs.

"In every team, there are key players and at the moment those two are in really good form," said Misbah of Cook and Root at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

"If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it’s important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting.

"Psychologically, that can also give you an advantage and damage the opposition if you can get them early, because other (members of the England) batting line-up are struggling at the moment.

"That’s really important for us to just get them (Cook and Root) early and put them (England) under pressure."

James Vince has yet to make a fifty in his seven career Test innings this season and left-hander Gary Ballance is also searching for a big score following his surprise recall for Pakistan’s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s.

"Throughout my time as captain there’s always been something up for discussion and at the moment it’s the middle order," said Cook.

"Until the guys get good scores consistently that will be the case but they’re very good players and they got picked because of outstanding form for their counties.

Turning to number four Vince, opening batsman Cook added: "I like the way he plays. He’s got a couple of starts and the way he handled the whole situation in a different format in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a good indicator of how he can handle the pressure. He needs that score for his confidence and to get you guys (the press) off his back."

Pakistan’s home ‘hurt’

Wednesday’s match will be the 500th Test played in England.

By contrast, Pakistan have been unable to play international cricket at home since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009 made the country a ‘no-go area’ for major foreign sides.

Pakistan have since established a temporary ‘home’ in the UAE but Misbah said there was no substitute for playing in front of your own fans.

"It can really hurt your overall development as a cricketing nation (not playing at home)", the 42-year-old veteran skipper explained.

"Your youth can really be inspired if you are playing internationally back at home. Obviously, you can build more infrastructure.

"It’s one area where you can say we are really unlucky and we want international cricket back in Pakistan, just to help our youngsters and just to help cricket in Pakistan.

"It’s really difficult for the Pakistan Cricket Board and it can really hurt them financially also.

"You can see wherever the World Cups are, or international events, the whole scenario changes, it’s like a fever in that country for that sport. That’s what we have been really missing."

Asked if he felt it was safe for rival Test teams to tour Pakistan now, Misbah replied: "That (the security situation) has been improving a lot.

"The Pakistan government, the army, everybody is really working hard on that. Hopefully, it will be better in the coming future."

Read More

Rangers 90-day detention powers no longer in effect: Murtaza WahabÂ

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser for Law, Murtaza Wahab, said Tuesday that special powers of Rangers to detain suspects for 90 days were no longer in effect as they had expired on June 14 this year.

Wahab said the federal government had got the law to detain suspects for 90 days passed by parliament on June 14, 2014 for two years which ended on June 14, 2016.

Under this bill, the paramilitary force had the powers to get 90-day remand of the suspect, he said.

He went on to say that the centre or the parliament had yet to pass any other bill regarding the special powers of Rangers, adding that until the new bill is passed, Rangers do not have any powers to get remand of suspects for 90 days.

The advisor also clarified that special policing powers of the paramilitary force are limited to Karachi only.

Read More

Centre rejects Sindh govt summary limiting Rangers powers to Karachi

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has rejected a summary approved by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah granting extension in Rangers’ stay in Karachi with special powers, sources in the ministry told Geo News on Tuesday.

Sources said that the legal experts of the ministry reviewed the summary and rejected it as it does not meet 'legal standards'.

They said that the approved summary had 'legal and constitutional issues' as it was not as per article 147. 

Sources further said that restricting special powers to Karachi was unconstitutional.

Murad Ali Shah, in a bid to end the persisting tense relations and row between the Sindh government and the Rangers, signed the summaries for extending the stay of the Sindh Rangers in the province by one year and to extend the special policing powers of the paramilitary force in Karachi for 90 days.

The federal government, meanwhile, had expressed its resentment over the provincial government for not extending the Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed Centre’s resentment for not extending Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh.

He said that if the paramilitary force’s policing powers were not approved for the whole province then they will consider other options in this regard.

Commenting killing of several police and military personnel in Karachi and Larkana, the minister said that lineage culprits have not yet been traced. “The paramilitary force has to have legal cover as they curb activities of criminals in the city.”

“So far 31 personnel of security forces have been killed in Karachi operation. The operation has not come at an easy price,” the interior minister added.

He said Rangers personnel in Karachi are carrying out the operation with the consent of the Sindh government and the federal government and Rangers extension issue in Sindh will not be politicised and controversies on extension issue of Rangers will not be allowed to turn into political football.

The interior minister said that people from all over Pakistan have supported Karachi operation as this operation has put positive implications Karachi situation.

The minister further said security forces have put their lives at stake and their sacrifices should not be played upon for seeking political mileage.

“We hope the extension of Rangers’ policing powers does not continue to be delayed.”

 

 

Read More

Centre rejects Sindh govt summary limiting Rangers powers to Karachi

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has rejected a summary approved by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah granting extension in Rangers? stay in Karachi with special powers, sources in the ministry told Geo News on Tuesday.

Sources said that the legal experts of the ministry reviewed the summary and rejected it as it does not meet 'legal standards'.

They said that the approved summary had 'legal and constitutional issues' as it was not as per article 147. 

Sources further said that restricting special powers to Karachi was unconstitutional.

Murad Ali Shah, in a bid to end the persisting tense relations and row between the Sindh government and the Rangers, signed the summaries for extending the stay of the Sindh Rangers in the province by one year and to extend the special policing powers of the paramilitary force in Karachi for 90 days.

The federal government, meanwhile, had expressed its resentment over the provincial government for not extending the Rangers? policing powers to the whole Sindh.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed Centre?s resentment for not extending Rangers? policing powers to the whole Sindh.

He said that if the paramilitary force?s policing powers were not approved for the whole province then they will consider other options in this regard.

Commenting killing of several police and military personnel in Karachi and Larkana, the minister said that lineage culprits have not yet been traced. ?The paramilitary force has to have legal cover as they curb activities of criminals in the city.?

?So far 31 personnel of security forces have been killed in Karachi operation. The operation has not come at an easy price,? the interior minister added.

He said Rangers personnel in Karachi are carrying out the operation with the consent of the Sindh government and the federal government and Rangers extension issue in Sindh will not be politicised and controversies on extension issue of Rangers will not be allowed to turn into political football.

The interior minister said that people from all over Pakistan have supported Karachi operation as this operation has put positive implications Karachi situation.

The minister further said security forces have put their lives at stake and their sacrifices should not be played upon for seeking political mileage.

?We hope the extension of Rangers? policing powers does not continue to be delayed.?

 

 

Read More

Khizr and Ghazala Khan: From parents of Muslim-American war hero to voice of millions

Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of US Army Captain Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq in 2004, recently talked with Geo News where they discussed Trump?s controversial comments and their desire to become a voice and beacon of hope for millions of Muslims in the US and across the world.

Khizr and Ghazala originally hail from Lahore, Pakistan, where Khizr studied law at the Punjab University. He then went to the US along with his young family to continue further studies at Harvard Law School, before permanently settling down in the country.

Speaking to Geo News, Khizr explained his motivation to deliver the powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 28 that broke the Internet and sent Republican nominee Donald Trump in a downward spiral of controversies and criticism.

"We wanted to pay tribute to our son, but most importantly we wanted to defend Muslim immigrants in the US against threats from Trump. We are patriotic American-Muslims,? Khizr said.

"Trump implied that Islam perhaps did not give permission to my wife to speak, but my wife has since spoken out on five networks, she wrote an article for the Washington Post countering Trump's comments.?

 

Khizr drew attention to the status of a Gold Star mother in the US, noting that even the US President stands behind Gold Star mothers in respect. "Trump is ignorant, and yes it needed to be said,? he said, reacting to Trump's remarks about Ghazala Khan.

Khizr then remarked on how politicians and the public at large have denounced Trump?s comments for the mother of the fallen US soldier.

"Even people from within his party think he is not fit to be the President,? Khizr said, adding that he and Ghazala have received letters from several other Gold Star mothers from all over the country rebuking Trump. 

23 Gold Star families have written an open letter to Trump demanding an apology for his remarks about Ghazala Khan.

"Trump wanted to expel Muslims from the US and look at him now, even his own people [Republicans] are not ready to have him as the nominee."

Khizr also drew attention to Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan?s letter in which he said Trump?s statement negated American values.

When asked by Geo News what message he wanted to send out to the Muslim-American community, Khizr stressed the importance of participating in the US political process. "I urge the community to register their votes and vote on the Election Day. If we don?t participate our voices won?t get heard."

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US Constitution sales soar after fallen soldier's Pakistani-American father challenges Trump

NEW YORK: Sales of pocket versions of the US Constitution have soared since the father of a fallen Muslim American soldier brandished a copy to denounce Donald Trump, igniting a major backlash against the Republican nominee.

Khizr Khan, a Harvard-educated lawyer whose son died in a 2004 suicide bombing in Iraq, went head to head with the insult-dishing White House candidate in a confrontation that has dominated the US news cycle for days.

On Amazon's best seller list, a pocket edition of the US constitution is second only to the new "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" script, and number one best seller in Amazon's US history category.

The 52-page paperback, on sale for $1 on Amazon, does not appear to be the same edition that Khan whipped out of his pocket in one of the most defining moments of last week's Democratic National Convention.

Publishers of another volume, "The US Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It," told AFP they had completely sold out and seen nothing like it in 23 years of operations.

"Today was the busiest day so its definitely accelerating," said Keir Walton, president of Oak Hill Publishing Company, founded in 1993 in Chicago.

"This is the first thing I've seen in 23 years that´s just fueled this incredible acceleration," he told news agency AFP by telephone.

Walton said he had dispatched 150,000 new copies to replenish stocks and was "100 percent certain" that the hike in sales was linked to Khan´s appearance at the Democratic convention.

"It's super exciting that it´s reintroduced so many people to the constitution, because it's a fascinating document as relevant today as when it was written," he said.

Trump on Monday renewed his assault against Khan as families of other fallen US soldiers demanded the tycoon apologize and prominent Republicans criticized his disparagement of the bereaved father and mother.

Khan, a Pakistani immigrant, last Thursday stood next to his wife accusing Trump of vilifying patriotic American Muslims, saying that if the Republican had his way his son, Captain Humayun Khan, would never have been in America.

"You are asking Americans to trust you with their future, let me ask you ? have you even read the United States Constitution?" he said, waving a copy to loud cheers at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

"I will gladly lend you my copy!" Khan said, demanding Trump consult the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection before the law.

As soon as Khan finished speaking, "register to vote" spiked as a Google search.

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England recall Finn for third Pakistan Test

Birmingham: England have recalled fast bowler Steven Finn for the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, captain Alastair Cook said Tuesday.

Finn, who has taken 120 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of under 30 apiece, is set to replace the injured Ben Stokes.

All-rounder Stokes has been ruled out after damaging his calf in England?s 330-run win in the second Test at Old Trafford that levelled the four-match series at 1-1.

Cook said there was still a slim chance England could give a home debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid if there was a marked change in pitch conditions between Tuesday and Wednesday?s toss at Edgbaston.

England also had the option of selecting Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball, who made his Test debut in Pakistan?s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord?s.

"It was a tough call as I found when I lie awoke at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) thinking about it" Cook told reporters at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Finn took six for 79 against Australia at Edgbaston in an Ashes Test win last year and Cook added: "We?ve gone for a guy with a proven Test record."

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England recall Finn for third Pakistan Test

Birmingham: England have recalled fast bowler Steven Finn for the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, captain Alastair Cook said Tuesday.

Finn, who has taken 120 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of under 30 apiece, is set to replace the injured Ben Stokes.

All-rounder Stokes has been ruled out after damaging his calf in England’s 330-run win in the second Test at Old Trafford that levelled the four-match series at 1-1.

Cook said there was still a slim chance England could give a home debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid if there was a marked change in pitch conditions between Tuesday and Wednesday’s toss at Edgbaston.

England also had the option of selecting Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball, who made his Test debut in Pakistan’s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s.

"It was a tough call as I found when I lie awoke at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) thinking about it" Cook told reporters at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Finn took six for 79 against Australia at Edgbaston in an Ashes Test win last year and Cook added: "We’ve gone for a guy with a proven Test record."

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SC bans installation of billboards on private properties in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a ban on illegal billboards mounted on Karachi's private buildings, after it earlier ordered heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards to remove illegal hoardings from their jurisdictions.

The apex court said that it could not permit the installation of dangerous signboards on bridges and public places in the metropolis.

A three-judge bench was hearing the case at the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry pertaining to the removal of illegal billboards and hoardings across the city, which the court says can prove to be dangerous for the public in case of natural emergencies like rainstorms and earthquakes.

During the hearing today, additional attorney general Salman Talibuddin informed the court that billboards have been removed from public places in the city, to which the court responded that there were still hoardings installed on footpaths in the upscale Zamzama area.

The court observed that the boards mounted on private properties could also prove to be dangerous, along with search-lights installed on bridges which can be unsafe for drivers.

"God forbid, what will happen to this city in case of an earthquake,” inquired the Justice Amir Hani Muslim.

In its short ruling, the apex court asked the session judge in Karachi to complete a survey of the city and submit a report on the matter within a month.

During the hearing of the case on Monday, the Cantonment Board Faisal had informed the court that there were still 57 billboards remaining within the jurisdictions of the Central Ordnance Depot (COD) and the PNS Karsaz.

The CBF submitted that 26 billboards were still installed within the jurisdictions of COD station headquarters and 31 in PNS Karsaz and as these areas fell within the administrative control of the army and the navy, these authorities had to report on their part in terms of the removal of the billboards.

The Cantonment Board Clifton had also filed a compliance report mentioning that all billboards â€" 228 â€" within its jurisdiction had been removed.

The court was informed by the additional attorney general that 98 percent of the billboards in the city had been removed and sought further time for the removal of the remaining ones.

The court had also warned that it would frame contempt charges against the heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards if the billboards installed illegally on footpaths were not removed.

The court had observed that the permission for setting up billboards could not be granted by land-owners of civic agencies as the act was in violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens.

At the July 22 hearing of the case, the court had directed the heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards to remove the remaining billboards from the stretch of their foundations within three days and submit their reports before the court on July 29.

In August last year, the apex court had directed the KMC and cantonment boards to remove all billboards observing that proceedings would be initiated against the heads of civic agencies and land owning departments if the orders were not complied with in letter and spirit. 

The court had observed that the permission for the installation of billboards could not be given by land-owners or civic agencies as the act in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens.

Proceedings of the case were initiated in 2011 on an application filed by a cantonment board that had challenged the Sindh High Court order that the cantonment board could not levy advertisement tax on outdoor billboards and hoardings within its jurisdiction.

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SC bans installation of billboards on private properties in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a ban on illegal billboards mounted on Karachi's private buildings, after it earlier ordered heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards to remove illegal hoardings from their jurisdictions.

The apex court said that it could not permit the installation of dangerous signboards on bridges and public places in the metropolis.

A three-judge bench was hearing the case at the Supreme Court?s Karachi registry pertaining to the removal of illegal billboards and hoardings across the city, which the court says can prove to be dangerous for the public in case of natural emergencies like rainstorms and earthquakes.

During the hearing today, additional attorney general Salman Talibuddin informed the court that billboards have been removed from public places in the city, to which the court responded that there were still hoardings installed on footpaths in the upscale Zamzama area.

The court observed that the boards mounted on private properties could also prove to be dangerous, along with search-lights installed on bridges which can be unsafe for drivers.

"God forbid, what will happen to this city in case of an earthquake,? inquired the Justice Amir Hani Muslim.

In its short ruling, the apex court asked the session judge in Karachi to complete a survey of the city and submit a report on the matter within a month.

During the hearing of the case on Monday, the Cantonment Board Faisal had informed the court that there were still 57 billboards remaining within the jurisdictions of the Central Ordnance Depot (COD) and the PNS Karsaz.

The CBF submitted that 26 billboards were still installed within the jurisdictions of COD station headquarters and 31 in PNS Karsaz and as these areas fell within the administrative control of the army and the navy, these authorities had to report on their part in terms of the removal of the billboards.

The Cantonment Board Clifton had also filed a compliance report mentioning that all billboards ? 228 ? within its jurisdiction had been removed.

The court was informed by the additional attorney general that 98 percent of the billboards in the city had been removed and sought further time for the removal of the remaining ones.

The court had also warned that it would frame contempt charges against the heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards if the billboards installed illegally on footpaths were not removed.

The court had observed that the permission for setting up billboards could not be granted by land-owners of civic agencies as the act was in violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens.

At the July 22 hearing of the case, the court had directed the heads of civic agencies and cantonment boards to remove the remaining billboards from the stretch of their foundations within three days and submit their reports before the court on July 29.

In August last year, the apex court had directed the KMC and cantonment boards to remove all billboards observing that proceedings would be initiated against the heads of civic agencies and land owning departments if the orders were not complied with in letter and spirit. 

The court had observed that the permission for the installation of billboards could not be given by land-owners or civic agencies as the act in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens.

Proceedings of the case were initiated in 2011 on an application filed by a cantonment board that had challenged the Sindh High Court order that the cantonment board could not levy advertisement tax on outdoor billboards and hoardings within its jurisdiction.

Read More

Apple replaces revolver emoji with toy gun in latest update

Apple has replaced a realistic revolver emoji with a water gun in its latest software update.

The iOS 10 which is set to release this year introduces a new range of emojis including a dancing cat and a female athlete.

It also adds a rainbow flag in line with its support to the LGBT community.

Changing the gun to look like a toy has been welcomed by gun control groups who claim that the move will reduce violence among users.

The realistic revolver emoji has been used as a threat in fact a French court has warned that the sending a weapon emoji to someone will be considered a death threat.

 A statement on Apple?s website did not address the change in the gun design but only said that a new range of emojis have been introduced.

?More than one hundred new and redesigned emoji characters will be available to iPhone and iPad users this fall with iOS 10,? Apple said in its official announcement. ?This exciting update brings more gender options to existing characters, including new female athletes and professionals, adds beautiful redesigns of popular emoji, a new rainbow flag and more family options.

Read More

Apple replaces revolver emoji with toy gun in latest update

Apple has replaced a realistic revolver emoji with a water gun in its latest software update.

The iOS 10 which is set to release this year introduces a new range of emojis including a dancing cat and a female athlete.

It also adds a rainbow flag in line with its support to the LGBT community.

Changing the gun to look like a toy has been welcomed by gun control groups who claim that the move will reduce violence among users.

The realistic revolver emoji has been used as a threat in fact a French court has warned that the sending a weapon emoji to someone will be considered a death threat.

 A statement on Apple?s website did not address the change in the gun design but only said that a new range of emojis have been introduced.

?More than one hundred new and redesigned emoji characters will be available to iPhone and iPad users this fall with iOS 10,? Apple said in its official announcement. ?This exciting update brings more gender options to existing characters, including new female athletes and professionals, adds beautiful redesigns of popular emoji, a new rainbow flag and more family options.

Read More

Pak embassy sets up facilitation centre for workers without wages in Riyadh

ISLAMABAD: A facilitation centre has been formed for Pakistani labourers without wages in Pakistan’s embassy in Riyadh, said the Prime Minister House’s spokesman.

According to the spokesman, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued directions for the assistance and complaint resolution of the labourers in Saudi Arabia. A special fund has also been allocated for the plight of the struck Pakistani workers.

On July 29, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was briefed about 450 Pakistani workers facing financial problems in the Dammam area of Saudi Arabia.

The committee meeting at the Parliament House noted that overseas Pakistanis are facing severe financial problems as the company that hired them did not pay them salaries for the last several months.

Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary Tasawar Khan had told the committee that the Pakistan’s embassy in Riyadh was in contact with the workers. He had said that the government of Saudia Arabia had assured of clearing the dues of Pakistani workers.

Earlier it was reported that more than 1.6 million Pakistanis proceeded to Saudi Arabia during 2011-15 for employment purposes, making the country the largest market for Pakistani workers across the world.

According to an official of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, overall 49.9 percent (1.6 million) workers had proceeded to Saudi Arabia during the stated period.

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Samia Shahid murder case: Headway as new doubts arise over father

JHELUM: Investigations in the murder case of Samia Shahid, a British national allegedly killed for 'honour' by her family on a visit to Pakistan, finally picked up momentum after her father Chaudhary Shahid was found to have omitted important information in his statement to the police.

Samia Shahid’s father Chaudhary Shahid is once again on the police radar after it was discovered he left out crucial information when questioned by the police regarding the murder.

According to a copy of his statement obtained by Geo News, Chaudhary Shahid did not mention that Samia’s first husband went missing after the murder.

This omission has given the police new reasons to suspect the father. The police are already probing Samia’s mother and sister in the case.

Samia’s father on Sunday declined to recognize her second husband before a high-level investigation committee formed last week to probe the matter.

Samia married Mukhtar Kazam less than two years ago against her family's wishes and went to live with his family in Dubai.

In July Samia, originally from Bradford, went to visit her father in a village called “Poteh” near Dina on the 14th of July. Her family, who are also British nationals, were in Pakistan following a bereavement within the family.

It is understood that after marrying Mukhtar Kazam, the couple had faced death threats.

After Samia’s death in mysterious circumstances, her husband was told she died of a heart attack but the parents lodged a statement saying she committed suicide.

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Turkey to split spy service after coup: report

ISTANBUL: Turkey is planning to split its spy service into separate units for foreign and domestic intelligence after the organisation was vehemently criticised for shortcomings over the failed coup, a report said Tuesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been scathing about the failure of the National Intelligence Service (MIT) to warn him in a timely manner about the coup, complaining he found out when his brother-in-law called up.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus on Monday said a restructuring of Turkey's intelligence operations was "on the agenda" after the coup, just as with the military.

According to the Hurriyet daily, the move will involve splitting the MIT so that foreign espionage and domestic counter-intelligence work are in the future handled by different entities.

This would bring Turkey in line with the system in Britain, where foreign intelligence is handled by MI6 and domestic intelligence by MI5.

It said domestic intelligence would largely be handled by the police and the gendarmerie, which --- under separate reforms agreed after the coup -- will in future report to the interior ministry and not the military.

In a major shake-up of the security services, the authorities have sought to reassert civilian influence and also emphasise the presidency´s control so a coup never happens again.

The foreign intelligence entity will report directly to the Turkish presidency, which will also have a unit in charge of coordination between the two sections, it added.

But this unit will not just conduct coordination but will also do its own intelligence analysis, the report said.

There has been huge pressure on the MIT´s powerful chief Hakan Fidan in the wake of the coup, particularly following reports he found out about the planned putsch hours before the government was informed.

However, so far he has kept his job.

"We are all mortal," Kurtulmus said on Monday.

"Let's create such a system that no-one can make a coup again. Let's create such an intelligence system that gives Turkey the highest level of intelligence," he said.

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Samia Shahid murder case: Headway as new doubts arise over father

JHELUM: Investigations in the murder case of Samia Shahid, a British national allegedly killed for 'honour' by her family on a visit to Pakistan, finally picked up momentum after her father Chaudhary Shahid was found to have omitted important information in his statement to the police.

Samia Shahid?s father Chaudhary Shahid is once again on the police radar after it was discovered he left out crucial information when questioned by the police regarding the murder.

According to a copy of his statement obtained by Geo News, Chaudhary Shahid did not mention that Samia?s first husband went missing after the murder.

This omission has given the police new reasons to suspect the father. The police are already probing Samia?s mother and sister in the case.

Samia?s father on Sunday declined to recognize her second husband before a high-level investigation committee formed last week to probe the matter.

Samia married Mukhtar Kazam less than two years ago against her family's wishes and went to live with his family in Dubai.

In July Samia, originally from Bradford, went to visit her father in a village called ?Poteh? near Dina on the 14th of July. Her family, who are also British nationals, were in Pakistan following a bereavement within the family.

It is understood that after marrying Mukhtar Kazam, the couple had faced death threats.

After Samia?s death in mysterious circumstances, her husband was told she died of a heart attack but the parents lodged a statement saying she committed suicide.

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Turkish FM insists Gulen-run schools in Pakistan must close down

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish foreign minister emphasized that a chain of ‘Gulen-run’ schools in Pakistan should be closed, during a one-day visit here on Tuesday.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu addressed a joint press conference after the meeting.

The Turkish foreign minister said that a coup had been planned by Fethullah Gulen from Pensylvania.

Turkey has blamed the US-based cleric who was a former supporter of Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan for a failed coup in Turkey, though Gulen has rejected the allegations.

He added that Turkey had asked Pakistan to close down these schools much before the attempted coup. “The request was made when President Mamnoon Hussain visited Turkey.”

The Gulen-run schools are functional in many different countries, he said.

The Turkish foreign minister said that Turkey had always supported Pakistan on its stance on the Kashmir issue.

He added that the two countries are in talks to initiate the Islamabad-Istanbul corridor.

Sartaj Aziz stressed that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close brotherly relations. “We are on the same page when it comes to tackling terrorism.”

Sartaj Aziz also said that the Turkish people had foiled the attempts by a certain section of the Turkish army to stage a coup and overthrow the democratic government of Erdogan and Prime Minister Yildrim. Sartaj also reminded the Turkish Foreign Minister that the parliament of Pakistan had passed a resolution condemning the attempted military coup in Turkey.

Over 11000 students and 1500 teachers will be directly affected if the 23 Pak-Turk schools in Pakistan close down.

 

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DHA confirms three properties owned by Musharraf

KARACHI:The Defence Housing Authority on Tuesday confirmed three bungalows were named after former President Gen (r) Musharraf.

The DHA wrote a letter to the district and session court confirming their presence, court sources told Geo News.

According to details in the letter, Musharraf has a 2000-yard bungalow in Phase 8, Defence. The former president also owns two plots in DHA phase 8, DHA stated.

However DHA has remained silent over a bungalow in Army Housing Scheme which is considered one of the main properties of the former military dictator. Sources in DHA claim that Musharraf in fact has two properties in Army Housing Scheme, something that even the court was unaware of.

District Judge South (Karachi) Nazir Amin Memon had initiated action based on the Special judge Islamabad?s ruling, in which the court had ordered freezing of Musharraf?s assets and properties.

The district judge had ordered seizing of four bungalows belonging to the former president.

The district judge in a letter had asked the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to take action and submit a response in three days over the matter.

The Special Court had ordered the revenue and other authorities to confiscate the details of the former president?s property during proceedings of a high treason case.

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DHA confirms three properties owned by Musharraf

KARACHI:The Defence Housing Authority on Tuesday confirmed three bungalows were named after former President Gen (r) Musharraf.

The DHA wrote a letter to the district and session court confirming their presence, court sources told Geo News.

According to details in the letter, Musharraf has a 2000-yard bungalow in Phase 8, Defence. The former president also owns two plots in DHA phase 8, DHA stated.

However DHA has remained silent over a bungalow in Army Housing Scheme which is considered one of the main properties of the former military dictator. Sources in DHA claim that Musharraf in fact has two properties in Army Housing Scheme, something that even the court was unaware of.

District Judge South (Karachi) Nazir Amin Memon had initiated action based on the Special judge Islamabad’s ruling, in which the court had ordered freezing of Musharraf’s assets and properties.

The district judge had ordered seizing of four bungalows belonging to the former president.

The district judge in a letter had asked the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to take action and submit a response in three days over the matter.

The Special Court had ordered the revenue and other authorities to confiscate the details of the former president’s property during proceedings of a high treason case.

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35 cases of Congo reported this year

ISLAMABAD: At least 35 cases of the Congo virus were reported in the country this year.

Six patients who contracted the Congo Virus died during treatment, the National Institute of Health reported. At least 16 cases of the virus were reported at the NIH.

Livestock workers are at a risk of contracting the virus as it spreads through animal blood and body fluids.

Health professionals have expressed their concern over the expected spread of the virus during Eid-ul-Azha in September. They have stressed that the government should take measures to prevent the outbreak of the virus.

Symptoms of the virus include high fever, and bleeding from the nose and ears.

 

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Pakistan?s representation at Rio Olympics presents a gloomy picture

KARACHI: When 206 nations march past during the Rio Olympics opening ceremony, a mere seven-athlete team will represent Pakistan -- one fewer than the contingent sent by tiny Atlantic island Bermuda.

Despite producing world-class cricketers, hockey players and squash champions in 68 years since independence, Pakistan´s Olympic medal tally is an imperfect 10 -- eight in field hockey and only two individual.

The Olympics in Brazil mark the lowest ebb for Pakistan as they failed to qualify in field hockey for the first time since their maiden appearance in 1948 London Games.

Three athletes -- shooters Ghulam Mustafa Bashir and Minhal Sohail, and judoka Shah Hussain, qualified by right on the "continental quota" after racking up reasonable records in various international competitions.

There are also four wild cards which are given to all the member countries by the International Olympic Association. They have been taken up by swimmers Liana Swan and Harris Banday, and athletes Mehboob Ali and Najma Parveen.

It is a far cry from the sporting glory the country once enjoyed. As recently as 1994, Pakistan held world titles in field hockey, amateur snooker, squash and cricket. But only hockey is an Olympic sport.

Follow the money 

Pakistan´s various sports federations are not awash with cash, but neither are they starved of funds to an extent that could explain the country´s abysmal performances.

Punjab, the country´s most populous province, allocated $50 million in its sports budget for 2016-17, while Khyber Pakthunkhwa, historically home to many of Pakistan´s best athletes, set aside $17 million.

Funds are awarded haphazardly, with patronage-based hiring and inflated wages of officials swallowing significant chunks and leaving individual sports federations baffled and angry.

"Funds not reaching deserving athletes and to the sport which has the potential of winning a medal is the most unfortunate thing," said Ehsan Qureshi, a seasoned sports journalist.

Iqbal Hussain, head of the country´s boxing federation, says his organisation was awarded a mere $3,000 for the qualifiers, down from $300,000 in 2012.
Commonwealth games boxing silver medallist Mohammad Waseem decided to turn professional after seeing no future in the amateur games.

"We need to invest a lot of money if we want to win a medal in Olympics," said Mohammad Inam, a gold medal winner at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. "You can´t win on mere training, you need to compete in various competitions and through that your standard is raised."

Hockey slump 

The biggest slump has come in hockey -- where Pakistan can boast three golds in 1960, 1968 and 1984, but their last medal was a bronze at Barcelona in 1992.

They finished a poor eighth in 2008 and seventh four years later.

The malaise worsened as Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2014 and then missed out on qualifying for Rio.

"It´s a big setback that our field hockey team will be missing for the first time," said Pakistan Olympic Association president Arif Hassan.

"It hurts because Pakistan hockey was such a strong team that it was our identity," added Hanif Khan, a member of last gold medal winning team in 1984.

"Today Pakistan team is out of the Olympics, we have won three Olympics and four world titles... that´s disappointing and we are to blame ourselves for this."

But there remains a glimmer of hope. Pakistan´s best chance of a medal is Shah Hussain Shah, a judoka who won Silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and whose father Hussain Shah won Bronze as a boxer in the Seoul Games in 1988.

"I have trained hard in Japan and it´s my aim to emulate my father´s win," said Shah, who lives and trains in Tokyo.

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Musharraf govt ignored official warning of bloodshed on May 12

ISLAMABAD: A critically important “confidential” official note on the 12th May 2007 massacre in Karachi, available with The News, shows that not only was the Musharraf government warned of possible bloodshed but efforts were also made to ban all rallies. No heed was, however, paid to all these warnings and suggestions. 

Background interactions and an all-important “confidential” note of the then Chief Secretary Sindh Shakil Durrani reveal that a few days before May 12, the governor Sindh and the then CJ Sindh High Court had agreed to ban all rallies and gatherings through an ordinance to avert killings. However, the governor did not get a green signal from Islamabad.

The chief secretary’s note sent to the governor and the chief minister on May 13, 2007 also revealed that how on May 11 the chief secretary, during an exclusive meeting of key officials of the law enforcing agencies, contacted the principal secretary to the then prime minister and warned “there was a better than 80% chance of violence the following day”. Still the Musharraf government did not listen to any recommendation to defuse the tension.

Some official sources, who have been part of the discussions and debates, confided to The News on condition of not being named that General Musharraf, Chief Minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim and the MQM were adamant to go ahead with the confrontational strategy which led to the killing of 48 persons, including 40 Pashtuns.

These sources said that the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Governor Ishratul Ebad, the then CJ SHC Justice Sabihuddin Ahmad, the then Chief Secretary Shakil Durrani, Home Secretary Brigadier Mohtarum and Additional IG Special Branch Bachal Sangri were among those who wanted to avoid the situation but they were ruled out by Musharraf and other confrontationists.

The chief secretary’s confidential note, copies of which are also with the Presidency and PM’s Office, criticised the MQM’s decision that it would hold a counter rally in Karachi and would not allow the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to reach the SHC.

The documents reveal that meetings were held on the 9th and 10th of May 2007 in the Governor’s House to seek means to pre-empt an ugly situation from developing and for reducing or eliminating the threat of violence.

No attention was paid to the advice of the Sindh government official to restrain or restrict the MQM and opposition rallies to distinct and different areas where these would be distanced from each other. “It was pointed that there would be serious clashes in case the opposing rallies were to come face to face and in the event of blood being shed the situation would be difficult to control.”

The note said, “It was clear to the senior administration and police officers that the situation was very dangerous and there were high chances of violence…”At this stage, according to the document, the Sindh governor and the CJ SHC took a very commendable initiative to defuse the situation. “The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court visited the Governor’s House three times and a consensus middle of the road understanding was evolved. This consisted of calling off and prohibiting all rallies, gatherings and meetings everywhere in Karachi through existing laws or through an ordinance for a limited period of time.”

The document then reads, “Light appeared to be visible at the end of the tunnel! However, hours later much to our surprise and regret it emerged that this understanding was not to be formalised and implemented. It appeared that preference was to be ‘given to peoples’ power through mass rallies over the application of stringent laws of the State.”

An official source explained that following an understanding between the governor and the CJ SHC on May 10th, the former contacted Islamabad the same evening but he failed to get go-ahead from Musharraf.

According to the document, “The next day i.e. 11th May the Chief Secretary called an exclusive meeting of the Home Secretary, Director General Rangers, Provincial Police Officer, City Chief Police Officer Karachi and the Additional Inspector General (Special Branch) to discuss and evaluate the situation on the ground.”

It added, “The informed view of this meeting was that the situation was ominous and that there was a better than 80% chance of violence the following day with the probability of it spreading along ethnic lines as by and large all political parties in Karachi are ethnic based. These views were immediately conveyed on telephone, in the presence of the attendees, of the meeting to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.”

According to a source, following this warning from top provincial administration the then principal secretary to the PM spoke to Shaukat Aziz, who then contacted Musharraf to avoid the confrontation on May 12 but failed to convince the dictator.

The CS’s confidential note said that later in the evening of 11th May, the police blocked the Shahrae Faisal at a number of places to prevent rallies from reaching the airport. Activists of the MQM similarly blocked roads in other parts of the city, effectively preventing any movement of wheeled traffic so that by 12th morning the entire city was effectively sealed.

The CS wrote, “The four jeeps earmarked for the CJP entourage could not reach the Airport. The Home Secretary Sindh, the Provincial Police Office Sindh and District Coordination Officer Karachi went to the airport by helicopter to apprise the CJP of the situation on the ground which by then had become even more tense and violent.

The CS added that during the course of the day incidents of serious firing and burning of vehicles were reported from Malir, Landhi, Banaras Chowk, Sohrab Goth, Qasba Colony, Patel Para, etc.”

The chief secretary added, ”The Police and the Rangers were deployed in strength but in some areas where intense firing occurred their absence was clearly felt and firing continued at some places for hours. A lot of public criticism of the police and the Rangers has been seen of these two agencies.”

The 13th May note of the chief secretary added, “No attendance was possible in offices, the commercial centers were shut and the lawyers found it difficult to reach the High Court. The economic loss to Karachi was colossal. The Chief Secretary Sindh High Court called the chief secretary on telephone early in the morning stating that judges were unable to reach the courts which he said was most unfortunate. He also mentioned that sadly his compromise proposals were not accepted, which could have averted the unfortunate happenings.”

The sources said that the then chief minister got upset with the chief secretary for writing all this. Few weeks later, the chief secretary was removed by Musharraf on CM’s recommendations.

- Originally published in The News

 

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Pakistan completes construction of Bab-e-Pakistan gate at Torkham border

KHYBER AGENCY: Construction of a gate at the Pak-Afghan border has been completed.

The gate named Bab-e-Pakistan has two doors which will be used for entrance and exit to and from Pakistan.

Construction on the gate began on June 12 this year sparkling border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Several days of unprovoked firing by Afghan forces injured many and killed a Pakistan Army major.

The border tensions resulted in a curfew in the region and affected trade related activities.

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