ISLAMABAD: In a video doing rounds on social media, three foreigners — including two women and a man — can be seen being harassed by a mob in Shakarparian, a tourist spot in the federal capital on Independence Day.
According to the information shared by Islamabad’s police, the incident occurred at the Pakistan Monument. No complaints to investigate the incident were received by the police.
"No one complained to the administration present at the site of the incident", the police said.
A Twitter page — Islamabad Updates — which posts about the city’s various issues, shared videos of the disturbing incident where the two women and a man accompanying them could be seen being mobbed and harassed by over a dozen men around them.
The tourists appear visibly distressed and uncomfortable following the mob’s undue attention.
"Boys misbehaving with foreign tourists on the occasion of #Pakistan's #IndependenceDay in Shakarparian, #Islamabad. Authorities must identify and punish the culprits," the video caption said.
Netizens have strongly reacted to the videos, questioning concerned authorities to initiate an investigation and take action against the men involved in the tourists’ harassment.
As Pakistan celebrates its 75th Independence Day on Sunday wishes from world leaders and foreign dignitaries poured in to commemorate the country’s diamond jubilee.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his counterpart Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the occasion. In his message, President Putin wished for “Pakistan’s success in economic and social development, well-earned respect possessed by it on international arena.”
United States’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his message offered best wishes to the people of Pakistan.
“For more than seven decades, the US and Pakistan have worked together in partnership […] I look forward to strengthening our relationship in years to come as we look for opportunities to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia.”
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also sent their wishes for the Pakistani nation and congratulated PM Shahbaz and President Alvi.
UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also extended their congratulatory messages to the PM and President of Pakistan.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, in a statement, also wished Pakistan and Canadian-Pakistanis on the auspicious occasion citing that his nation celebrates the strong bonds that unite Canadian and Pakistani people.
“Canada and Pakistan enjoy a longstanding relationship, and this year also marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. We remain committed to fighting climate change, advancing women's empowerment, and promoting regional peace and stability,” Trudeau stated.
Chinese ambassador in Pakistan Nong Rong tweeted a video sharing the bilateral ties and friendship shared by both nations through the years.
Taking to Twitter German Ambassador-Designate Alfred Grannas and Acting British High Commissioner Andrew Dalgleish also shared video messages for Pakistanis on the special occasion.
“Right now the UK and Pakistan are collaborating to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges from driving forward action on climate change to improving gender equality,” Dalgleish said.
British High Commissioner Christian Turner, shared a letter for Pakistanis on Twitter.
“Our history unites us but does not define our future. The UK and Pakistan are EK Saath,” Turner wrote in his letter.
Special message by the Charge d'Affaires of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Sardar Ahmed Shakeeb was also shared by the Government of Pakistan’s official twitter account.
“Since the establishment of the new Islamic government in Kabul, we have been supporting the vital interests of each other and facilitating close cooperation and affairs of trade, education, culture, health and people-to-people relations,” Shakeeb said, adding that the friendship between people of both the nations are “strengthening with each passing day”.
Australian envoy Neil Hawkins dressed up in green and white celebrated the people-to-people links between the two nations, also emphasising on the passion shared by both country’s for the game of cricket.
LONDON: Former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz Saturday said all coalition government parties have unanimously decided to take PTI’s prohibited funding case to its "logical conclusion".
Speaking to journalists after meeting party supremo Nawaz Sharif, Hamza said: “The nation will hold declared Sadiq and Ameen [Imran Khan] accountable for calling others, thieves and robbers.”
“If Nawaz was disqualified for not taking salary from his son then Khan is immersed in prohibited funding from head to toe,” he added.
Regarding PTI’s demand for snap polls, Hamza stated that elections will be held as per schedule in 2023, adding that he is hopeful that his uncle will lead the election campaign of his party.
The PML-N leader, while commenting on Punjab CM’s election, said that they will not leave this matter like this and will seek justice from the court.
“When a full court will be formed in this matter then the case will be crystal clear,” he added.
Hamza had to quit the office of CM after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the PTI petition against the deputy speaker's ruling. Pervez Elahi of the PML-Q replaced him as Punjab CM due to the verdict.
Hamza arrived in London on a private visit on Friday and is expected to stay in the British capital for a few days. During his stay in London, the former chief minister met party supremo, Nawaz Sharif, who is there since 2019 and other family members.
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb Thursday said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will carry out a complete investigation into PTI's foreign funding case.
Speaking during a press conference following the government's cabinet meeting in the federal cabinet, Aurangzeb said that starting today, an inquiry has been started against "all those involved in this crime."
"The government will take an action in the light of the Election Commission of Pakistan's verdict and there will be an investigation as to where the funds were used," she said, adding that "all of them would have been in jail if the verdict had come during Imran Khan's tenure."
The information minister highlighted that the government had nothing to do with the foreign funding case, and it was Akbar S Babar — the founding member of the PTI — who filed a petition.
“The PTI has been declared a foreign-aided party by the ECP in its decision which was issued after eight years under the Political Parties Order 2002 and the Election Act 2017,” she said.
"It has been eight years and the PTI still hasn't provided any answers. The State Bank of Pakistan showed records in the ECP which showed that the PTI had postponed the hearing 75 times during these years," she said, adding that the Khan-led has been declared a "foreign-funded party".
The information minister announced that the government has decided to file a declaration against PTI — in a bid to get the party dissolved — in the Supreme Court.
"The PTI failed to declare 16 accounts. The accounts were opened in the names of the party leaders where they used to receive money," she added.
Shedding light on the relief measures being carried out for the flood victims in Balochistan, Aurangzeb said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the flood-affected areas.
"PM Shehbaz directed to give Rs1 million as compensation to the families that lost their loved ones and Rs500,00 to those whose houses were destroyed," said the PML-N leader.
The minister added that the premier issued instructions to the administration for the immediate rehabilitation of the victims.
According to IRNA's parliamentary reporter, in the public meeting today - Tuesday, August 11 - the Islamic Council of Ministers reported the report of the Health and Treatment Commission on the review of the performance of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education in the implementation of the "Darwar Project" in the presence of the Minister of Health, Bahram Ainullahi. Was investigated.
Zahra Sheikhi, the spokesperson of the Health Commission, in presenting the report of her respective commission and in introducing Darvar's plan, stated: Based on the fifth paragraph and the second part of the seventh paragraph of the general health policies (Communication of the Supreme Leader), efficient policy making and monitoring of production, consumption and the import of medicine as well as the management of health resources through the insurance system centered on the Ministry of Health, treatment and medical education are among the tasks of the government. Also, according to paragraph (Q) of note (1) of the budget law of 1401: "If the government intends to remove a product from the preferential currency basket, it must first make legal arrangements to compensate for the loss of consumer welfare for basic goods through the electronic goods list and medical matters from through insurances and reliable alternative methods, so that people can purchase these goods and services at the end of September price (1400) and within the set quota limit. Based on this, "Darwar Plan" has been implemented by the government since 23/04/1401.
Sheikhi stated: In this plan, the allocation of preferential currency has been transferred from the beginning of the health chain, i.e., importers and producers, to the end of the chain, and it has been allocated to the final consumer through insurances, and as a result, in accordance with the mandate of the budget law of 1401, out-of-pocket payment People will remain unchanged.
He added: Due to the removal of the government subsidy in the first stage of the implementation of the plan, domestically produced drugs have been subject to price increases, and the price of basic insurance obligations has been revised accordingly at the same time and in accordance with the announcement of the new prices. Therefore, after the currency reform Preferably, in the form of Darvar plan, the share paid by insurances will increase from the current 30% to 70%, and the share paid by the patient will decrease from the current 70% to 30%.
Referring to the increase in the number of drugs covered by insurance, the spokesperson of the health commission stated: the amount of insurance coverage for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs increased from zero to (119) and the number of drugs covered by insurance increased from (2,500) to (2,866) found. In the first phase of implementation of the Darvar project, the price of imported drugs, including special, rare and incurable imported drugs, did not increase and preferential currency allocation continued.
In the continuation of the report of the health commission on Daruvar plan was read, based on this report, it was announced that the health commission agreed with the reform of currency policies in the field of medicine and its implementation in the form of plans like "Darvar plan" is an inevitable necessity for the country. knows
The full text of this report Here read.
There is an urgent need to address the global energy and food crisis caused by disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tashkent on Friday. With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto listening, Jaishankar also asserted that "zero tolerance" for terrorism in all its manifestations is a "must", in remarks seen as an oblique message to Islamabad.
In his address at the foreign ministerial meeting of the eight-nation bloc, Jaishankar also underlined the potential of the Chabahar port in Iran for the economic future of the grouping. The SCO is a key economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.
The conclave, also attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, discussed the preparations for the forthcoming SCO summit in Samarkand on September 15-16. The summit is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders of the grouping.
Talking about the current global challenges, Jaishankar said the response required includes resilient and diversified supply chains as well as reformed multilateralism. The external affairs minister reiterated India's position on Afghanistan and highlighted its humanitarian support to the war-torn country, including the supply of wheat, medicines, vaccines and clothing.
The major highlights of the deliberations included a decision to grant permanent membership of the bloc to Iran and make Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia its dialogue partners. The ministers also supported the applications of Bahrain and the Maldives for the status of SCO dialogue partners.
"Participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Tashkent. Highlighted that world faces an energy and food crisis due to disruptions from the Covid pandemic and Ukraine conflict. This needs to be urgently addressed," Jaishankar tweeted. "Response required includes resilient and diversified supply chains as well as reformed multilateralism. Zero tolerance for terrorism in all its manifestations is a must," he said.
He said India will give the "fullest support" for the success of the Samarkand summit. "Reiterated India's position on Afghanistan and highlighted our humanitarian support: wheat, medicines, vaccines and clothing.
Underlined the potential of Chabahar port for SCO's economic future," Jaishankar said in another tweet. He said the meeting was "very useful" in preparing for the Samarkand summit.
"Spoke of the economic progress in India, stressing the relevance of startups and innovation. Cooperation in traditional medicine is in the common interest of SCO members," the external affairs minister added. Earlier, all the foreign ministers of the SCO nations called on Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Jaishankar said he conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s personal greetings to the Uzbek president. "Appreciated the momentum generated by Uzbek Presidency in fields of security, economy, trade, connectivity and culture," he said.
The external affairs minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and also with the secretary general of the SCO. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the meeting witnessed a dialogue on international and regional issues.
According to Uzbek news agency Dunyo, Jaishankar noted that Iran's entry into the SCO will further strengthen the organisation's influence in the world market. It said the ministers also supported the applications of Bahrain and the Maldives for the status of SCO dialogue partners.
The SCO is also actively studying an application for full membership in the bloc by Belarus. "There is a common understanding that the replenishment of the 'SCO family' will give a significant impetus to multifaceted interaction in the field of regional security, trade, investment, and industrial cooperation," acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov said.
He said it will contribute to the further development of the huge transport and transit potential in the space of the organisation. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.
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ISLAMABAD: The coalition government Thursday reiterated its demand, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the verdict on PTI's "foreign funding" case — which has been pending since 2014.
PTI's founding member Akbar S Babar had filed the case in 2014, alleging that the party received foreign funding and the ECP, on June 21, reserved the verdict in the case.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the foreign funding case is an example of "how ladla (blue-eyed boy) was being protected".
The premier wrote: “[Nawaz Sharif] was convicted for not taking a salary, 'Ladla' is untouchable. Eight years on, the decision is still elusive.”
He further mentioned that in order to stop the foreign funding case, Khan filed nine writ petitions in the Islamabad High Court and got 50 adjournments.
Meanwhile, while addressing a press conference in the federal capital flanked by State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira also questioned the delay in the announcement of the verdict.
“We don’t want to head towards a clash between institutions; however, people are waiting for the verdict which has been reserved,” he said, emphasising that the decision should be announced as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Malik said: “We are used to accepting decisions but, at least, bring the decision to the fore so that we can know what was the outcome of the case.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also took to his Twitter to urge ECP to “immediately” announce the verdict of the foreign funding case.
“PTI Lawyers resorted to delaying tactics for eight years by filing nine writ petitions during the proceedings but now the decision is already reserved,” he wrote, adding that a further delay is “incomprehensible”.
The PTI hid funds worth millions of rupees from the ECP, the report of an ECP scrutiny committee probing the party's funds revealed on January 4.
The report stated that the PTI provided "false information" regarding the party's funding to the ECP. It said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP's) bank statement revealed that the party had received Rs1.64 billion in funding.
According to the report, the party did not disclose funding worth more than Rs310 million to the ECP.
The scrutiny committee was formed in 2019 to audit foreign funding received by the PTI.
KIGALI, Rwanda
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday there is “no obstacle” to the implementation of a UN-Türkiye brokered grain export deal between Russia and Ukraine.
His remarks came after Russian missiles struck Ukraine's key Black Sea port of Odessa on Saturday in an attack that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “unequivocally” condemned.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said striking a target crucial for grain exports a day after the deal was signed in Istanbul was particularly reprehensible and demonstrated Russia’s total disregard for international law and commitments.
But speaking at a press conference in the Republic of Congo after a meeting with President Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Lavrov said the strikes at Odesa “should not affect” grain exports as they targeted “depots of arms and ammunition supplied to Kyiv by the West.”
“There is no obstacle to the implementation of the agreement of July 22,” he added.
Lavrov insisted that Russia would maintain strikes against Ukrainian military targets, as in the obligations that Russia took on, “nothing would forbid us from continuing the special military operation.”
The top Russian diplomat also accused the West of being responsible for the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
Lavrov made his remarks on the second leg of his Africa trip as Russia seeks to strengthen its cooperation in the region in the face of the growing isolation of Moscow by the West due to the war on Ukraine.
He started his visit in Egypt on Sunday before heading to the Republic of Congo and arrived in Uganda late Monday, from where he will head to Ethiopia.
Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, who was part of the talks in Istanbul, said Monday that the first grain shipments under the deal were expected to take place this week.
The war in Ukraine has compounded the problem of food insecurity around the world.
Russia and Ukraine account for 30% of the global wheat trade.
The war has disrupted wheat exports, driving wheat prices up by 60% in Africa, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said in April.
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The UK’s foreign secretary has blamed France for the travel chaos faced by many travelers and holidaymakers at the Port of Dover in southeast England.
Liz Truss, on Saturday, accused French authorities of not sending enough officials to man border posts and rejected French claims that Brexit was the cause of the chaos.
“The fact is that the French authorities have not put enough people on the border and I am in touch with the French authorities, I am very clear that we need to see action from them to resolve the terrible situation that people are facing,” Truss said in an interview with Sky News.
When asked if the chaos faced at the port is a result of post-Brexit border checks, the foreign secretary said the current situation is the result of a lack of resources.
“This is a situation that is being caused by a lack of resources at the border and that is what the French authorities need to address and that is what I am being very clear about,” Truss added.
UK blames France as British travellers face waits of up to six hours at the port of Dover for border checks pic.twitter.com/EKIuflFUZL
— TRT World (@trtworld) July 23, 2022
Brexit
French authorities have rejected claims by the British government that it is at fault for the delays and logjams, arguing instead that Brexit and the erection of border checks are the cause for delays and obstruction.
The UK’s official union for borders, the ISU, said Brexit had resulted in stringent checks at the country’s borders.
“It’s certainly the case that the checks are more rigorous than they used to be. Prior to Brexit, there was a deemed right of entry. We weren’t in Schengen but there were still very minimal checks ... and frequently there were no French checks at all,” ISU official Lucy Morton said.
“We’re now, of course, outside the EU and they’re entitled to treat us as they treat any other European traveller. So they do the same level of checks we do, and have always done, on them,” Morton added.
On Friday, the Port of Dover, a major terminal for travelers seeking entry into France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, declared a "critical incident" after travelers faced queues that lasted up to six hours.
Source: AA
