Tayyaba torture case: additional judge, wife taken into custody

Aside April 17, 2018 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

ISLAMABAD: Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar were taken into custody after the Islamabad High Court sentenced them to one-year in jail in the 10-year-old domestic worker Tayyaba torture case.

The convicts were also fined Rs50,000 each after they were found guilty of torturing the domestic worker.

In late December 2016, Tayyaba was recovered from the house of Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan after neighbors alerted the police about the torture.

The minor girl, whose face and hands bore torture marks, had initially denied being tortured by her employer, but later she narrated her ordeal to a woman magistrate that she was beaten and her hands were burnt on a stove.

A case was lodged against the Additional Sessions Judge Khan and his wife at the Industrial Area police station for torture and violence.

On January 10, the Supreme Court rejected appeal Additional Sessions Judge Khan against a verdict by the Islamabad High Court that had rejected a compromise between the two parties in the Tayyaba torture case.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST, PAKISTAN, WORLD

China cultural center to celebrate the 3rd anniversary on Wednesday

Aside April 17, 2018 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

ISLAMABAD: China Cultural Center in Pakistan is organizing “special performance to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of China Cultural Center in Pakistan” on April 19 April.

The Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing and senior officials of Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will also attend the event, said a press release.

Traditional Chinese instrumental music performances will be presented, along with the celebration event opening of the Pakistani and Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition in the China Cultural Center gallery. China Cultural Center in Pakistan was formally inaugurated in 2015 by President of China Xi Jinping and Ex-Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The China Cultural Center in Pakistan has begun the process of preparatory work with a series of cultural exchange activities. The establishment of the Center reflects the strengthening of the bonds of friendship between China and Pakistan. It will provide greater opportunities for learning each other’s languages and knowing the respective cultures. This event is full of entertainment and mesmerizing performance of Chinese Artists from Shanxi Province of China, ensuring immense pleasure to the audience to enlighten and strengthen the Pak-China Friendship in the field of traditional and Cultural Exchange programs.

The Pakistani and Chinese calligraphy and painting Exhibition are open for visitors at the Gallery of China Cultural Center in Pakistan (top Floor of PNCA), with joint collaboration of COMSATS China Study Center, CIIT (COMSATS Institute of Information Technology ).

Art collections will highlight one of the greatest private collections of art with the presentation of Pakistani & Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. It is a tremendous honor to be presenting one of the most important collections of art to audiences of Pakistan, adding this will give an opportunity for experts and enthusiasts

ISLAMABAD, LATEST, PAKISTAN

Cabinet approves budget strategy paper for FY 2018-19, 2020-21

Aside April 17, 2018 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet Tuesday approved Budget Strategy Paper for financial years 2018-19 to 2020-21 after holding discussions at length and providing useful suggestions for incorporation in the upcoming budget proposals.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here at the PM’s Office, said a press release. During the meeting, the prime minister observed that sustained income and revenue streams would benefit the country instead of obtaining loans.

The Finance Division authorities presented the Budget Strategy Paper for the financial years (FY) 2018-19 to 2020-21 and briefed about the macroeconomic indicators of the current FY 2017-18. The secretary finance briefed that the Budget Strategy for FY 2018-19 to 2020-21 was based on four broad targets, including sustained growth momentum, ensuring fiscal consolidation, managing balance of payments and ensuring debt sustainability.

It was informed that the recently announced Economic Reforms Package including lowering tax rates, widening the tax base, real estate reforms, local amnesty, and tightening of foreign exchange regime would help increase revenues and reduce deficit.

BUSINESS, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Automobile sale rises 15.6% in 9 Months

Aside April 17, 2018 Syed Tauqeer Hussain Zaidi

ISLAMABAD: Sale of cars in the country increased by 15.62 percent during first three quarters (July-March) of the fiscal year 2017-18 compared to same period of the preceding year.

Sale of cars rose to 161,371 units in July-March (2017-18) compared to 139,570 units during the same period of the year 2016-17. Sale of cars during March 2018 also increased by 3.78 percent when compared with the sale during March 2017, however, the sale decreased by 0.2 percent when compared with that of February 2018.

According to latest data released by Pakistan Automobile Manufacturers Association (PAMA), as many as 18,988 cars were sold in March 2018 as compared to 18,295 units in March 2017 and 19,027 units in February 2018. The breakup figures show that 32,074 units of Honda civic and city were sold during Jul-Mar 2017-18 as compared to the sale of 28,120 units during the same period of the preceding year.

Toyota Corolla cars’ sale, however, witnessed the negative growth of 6 percent as it went down to 38,244 units in July-March 2017-18 from 40,694 units in same period of previous year. Suzuki Swift witnessed a growth of 9.5 percent as its sale rose to 3,593 units in first three quarters of the current fiscal year from 3,281units in Jul-March 2016-17. Similarly, the sale of Suzuki Cultus also rose to 15,624 units in the period under review whereas, during the same period last year, the sale was recorded at 11,905 units.

The sale of Suzuki Wagon R witnessed a sharp increase of 64.9 percent to 20,771 units from 12,595 units in the period July-March 2016-17. Sale of Suzuki Mehran also witnessed an increase of 48.5 percent during the corresponding period as it rose to 36,395 units in Jul-Mar 2017-18 from 24,501 units in same period of last year. Likewise, the sale of Suzuki Bolan also rose to 16,263 in first three quarters of the current fiscal year as compared to sale of 14,938 units in Jul-Mar 2016-17.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST, PAKISTAN, Wah/Taxila

Tributes paid to educationist Sarfaraz Khan for his decades old services for education centers

Aside April 17, 2018 Amjad Yousufzai

Speakers representing different section of society paid rich tributes to Professor doctor Sarfaraz Khan, director area study centre University of Peshawar for his decades old services for education centre in an event organized by Sir Syed education society resident Dr Tahir Durrani at a local hotel here.

The event was chaired by Vice chancellor University of Haripur Dr Aabid Fareed while former director General Election commission of Pakistan Raja Ghias Ud Din Balbun, Professor Rifat Durrani head of education department University of Haripur, Professor Zia Ul Mustafa Urdu department Cadet College Hasanabdal, Dr Tehseen Tahir education department University of Haripur, Prof Atta Ur Rehman Chaudhry President Founder education foundation, Zahid Hussain Chaughti Journalist and Writer, Dr Asad Ali, President of local chapter of Pakistan academy of family physicians, Nadia Saeed English department University of Wah and Abrar Ahmed Khan divisional president All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA), Qazi Zahoor Ul Haq, former Executive District Officer (Education) Rawalpindi, District officer secondary education Raja Amjad Iqbal, deputy district officer education Rawalpindi Amjad Mehmood, Sir Syed education society President Dr Tahir Durrani and deputy district education officer Taxila Sher Afzal spoke on this occasion and lauded the services of Mr Khan for education centre and imparting youth with the quality knowledge. The participants were of the view that Dr. Khan services for research and academia would always be cherished as he put his heart and soul in academic activities of area study centre.