Probe into wood smuggling from Neelum Valley ordered

Aside October 14, 2017 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

MUZAFFARABAD: Forest Minister Sardar Mir Akbar Khan has ordered an inquiry about the involvement of officers of forest department in massive smuggling of costly wood and herbs from Neelum Valley.

A senior officer of the department Khawaja Mumtaz has been appointed inquiry officer to probe allegations against chief conservator, district Forest officer (DFO) and others, said an official of the department.

The inquiry has been ordered after a huge consignment of wood was caught and seized at Muzaffarabad from the possession of a contractor of the department who transported the wood through fake permit, sources said.

The inquiry has been ordered against seven officers of the department under special power removal from service act and if the officer would found guilty, they might be removed from service under the law.

Lahore, LATEST, PAKISTAN

No need to expand NAB’s jurisdiction to army, judiciary: CM Shehbaz Sharif

Aside October 14, 2017 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said there is a need to ensure that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) works in an honest, impartial manner, instead of expanding its ambit to the army and judiciary.

In a statement, Shehbaz said that the judiciary and army already have a system for accountability in place.

NAB has failed to hold accountable corrupt people and looters of the national exchequer and needs to work impartially, the statement said.

The chief minister said that a strict accountability system is needed in the country.

Karachi, LATEST, PAKISTAN, SINDH

MQM Pakistan workers being forced to Join PSP: Farooq Sattar

Aside October 14, 2017 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chief Farooq Satter on Saturday said that whatever happened in Islamabad on Friday was an unpleasant incident which harmed the image of the country abroad.

Talking to media after appearing in an anti-terrorism court in incendiary speech cases along with other party leaders, Farooq Sattar said that Islamabad incident had harmed the image of the country at internal level. He opined that the courts must be respected at every cost. Sattar said that the incident should have not happened.

The MQM-P chief added that disorder and violence in a court was contempt of the constitution. He said that MQM-P condemned the incident. He complained that federal and provincial governments and law enforcement agencies were not giving space to the MQM. He added that though no one was denying the existence of MQM-P but they were not being given their due political freedom, which would have bad consequences.

He added that uncalled for arrests of MQM-P workers had been started. He claimed that MQM-P workers were being pressured to join PSP. He added that that MQM-P workers and leaders were being intimidated and threatened and as a result restlessness among his party workers was increasing.

Earlier, the ATC heard the inflammatory speech cases. The court again issued non-bailable arrest warrants of MQM founder Altaf Hussain, Rasheed Godail, Khushbakht Shujaat, Salman Mujahid Baloch and others. MQM-P chief Farooq Satter, senior leader Amir Khan, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izhar and other appeared before the court. The court adjourned further hearing of the case till October 28, 2017.

LATEST, PAKISTAN, SINDH

Syed Khursheed Shah says everyone has right to comment on economy

Aside October 14, 2017 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

SUKKUR: Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khurshid Shah said that the government should give briefing to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on prevailing economic situation of the country to remove his reservations.

Talking to media, Khursheed Shah said that everyone, from a common man to the army chief, has the right to comment on economy taking an opposite position to the interior minister’s statement that the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) should refrain from commenting on the country’s economy.

Khurshid Shah said that there is nothing wrong with the army chief commenting on the state of the economy since he was the “commander-in-chief” of the army. A weakened economy means a weakened army, he said.

Commenting on the scuffle outside accountability court ahead of indictment proceedings against Sharifs, Shah said that the incident “should open the eyes of every Pakistani as to where we going as a nation”. He added that the Pakistan Peoples Party is working to ensure that the different institutions of the country are not at loggerheads, and advised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other politicians to do the same. He said clash between departments and state is dangerous for the country as weak institutions weaken the government as well.

Responding on Khatm-e-Naboowat issue, Shah advised the politicians to carefully handle the issue and referain from saying harsh words.

LATEST, PAKISTAN, WORLD

2 Pak nationals to be given visa for medical treatment: Sushma Swaraj

Aside October 14, 2017 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced that two Pakistani nationals will be given visa for undergoing liver transplant surgeries in India.

The minister said she has asked the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to give visa to Naseem Akhtar, a Pakistani woman, for her liver transplant surgery in India.

Swaraj’s intervention came after Akhtar’s son requested for her help.

“I have asked Indian High Commissioner to give Visa for your mother’s liver transplant surgery in India,” the external affairs minister said in a tweet.

Swaraj said another visa was being granted to Pakistani national Shabbir Ahmed Shah who also required a liver transplant surgery. “We are giving Visa for your father’s liver transplant surgery in India,” she tweeted.

Shah’s son Ali Asadullah had earlier requested Swaraj on the social media platform to issue visa to his father for his treatment in India.