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The government of Pakistan has decided to set up Project Management Unit (PMU) for management and maintenance of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (GDSK) constructed and outsourced by Frontier Works Organization (FWO), official sources revealed yesterday. The ETPB functions under Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act No. XIII of 1975 and the schemes made thereunder. The present government decided to open the Corridor with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur with lead role to ETPB. The Government of Pakistan spent Rs16.280 billion on development of the Gurdwara. The project was formally approved under the Prime Minister’s directive given on March 19, 2019. Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was inaugurated by the prime minister on November 9, 2019, coinciding with 550 birthday anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikh religion. As per bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India held on October 24, 2019, 5000 Sikh pilgrims are allowed to visit GDSK through corridor, while local Pakistanis are also visiting the DKC in considerable numbers. Every yatree deposits $20 as “service charges” on arrival from Indian side which is credited into Federal Consolidated Fund. From November 2019 to March 2020, 63,000 (63,000x$20-$1,260,000) yatrees from India visited the Gurdwara. Visitors from Pakistani side pay Rs200 per head as “service charges” to Global Nobal Company (FWO). From November 2019 to March 2020, 422,000 (422,000 x Rs200 - Rs84,400,000) locals from within Pakistan visited the Gurdwara. Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony argues that after remodelling the GDSK, it has become a huge complex and not easy to manage, as thousands of locals visit the complex on a daily basis. ETPB has made interim arrangements but existing staff is not sufficient to manage the affairs of Gurdwara including day to day operation of the Corridor. Therefore, regular, well trained and equipped staff is required to maintain and manage the project. The sources said, ETPB proposed that Project Management Unit should be established to run its management and to streamline the religious activities inside the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and take its lead role by extending coordination with other agencies working in GDSK. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony further noted that the Establishment Division (MS Wing) had agreed/recommended creation of 162 posts for PMU, however, Finance Division agreed to the creation of 126 posts for PMU. ETPB had proposed a Business Plan for the creation and self-financing of the PMU. The Ministry of RA and IFH sanctioned following business plan for establishment/self-financing of Project Management Unit to run the affairs of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor under the supervision of ETPB advice: (i) Business Plan to create PMU at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur along with creation of 126 posts and recurring budget and other costs to make PMU a self-financing body under the administrative control of ETPB. PMU/ETPB would be allowed to collect fees/rents and utilise the funds from local visitor’s service charges, rent of shops, parking fees and cultural activities, according to Sikh traditions. The ministry requested that an estimated amount of Rs90,300 million collected by the Global Nobel/FWO from service charges of Pakistani visitors and rent of shops may be allowed to be transferred to PMU on its creation to meet its immediate expenses. The Operation and Maintenance works for an initial period of two years, i.e. from Nov-2019 to Oct-2021 is being carried out by M/s Global Nobal Company outsourced by FWO. It will continue to be carried out under the supervision of PMU until Oct-2021, as the amount for this purpose has already been paid to FWO. The scheme for the management and disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977 also empowers renting, leasing and its development. All rents, profit, income and other amounts received/realised would also be part of trust pool. This would be collected in PMU budget and may be spent on PMU as per the forward plan.

Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed has said that the present government attaches great importance to the improvement of postal services and transparent governance. In a message on the occasion of World Post Day, he said that the postal sector plays a commendable role in financial services at affordable rates aimed at narrowing the financial inclusion gap as well meeting the evolving needs of its customers irrespective of physical barriers. Saeed said that being aware of the challenges of the digital world of today, Pakistan Post has also adopted a progressive and forward-looking approach to become a financially viable and self-sustaining digital entity. He said that the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a chain which connects people and communities, adding that it helps to sustain the flow of information, facilitate the movement of goods across the frontiers. The minister said that his priority has been to ensure administrative and financial discipline by bringing an effective accountability system across the board, to make Pakistan Post a truly vibrant and self-sustaining public organisation.

Pakistan on Friday banned the wildly popular video sharing app TikTok, as authorities press their clampdown on "immoral" content. Chinese-owned TikTok which has become a global sensation with its short video clips has a huge user base among young Pakistanis, with some attracting millions of followers. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday said TikTok had failed to adhere to two warnings, which had demanded it block "immoral, obscene and vulgar" content. "The application failed to fully comply with the instructions, therefore, directions were issued for blocking of TikTok application in the country", the PTA said in a statement. Pakistanis were unable to access the app on Friday evening. Arslan Khalid, a digital media adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan, has previously claimed the "exploitation, objectification & sexualization of young girls on TikTok" was causing pain to parents. Earlier this week, Pakistani TikToker Jannat Mirza became the first in the country to reach 10 million followers, with lip-syncing and slow motion clips among her content. "TikTok is a major source of entertainment for lower and middle class Pakistanis, as well as illiterate citizens that includes half the population as it is video based and easy to use," said Usma Khiliji, a digital rights activist, who said the ban violates freedom of speech. Campaigners have long criticised the creeping censorship and control of Pakistan's internet, printed and electronic media. PTA said it would review its decision if the app put in place mechanisms to moderate unlawful content. In a statement TikTok said it was "hopeful to reach a conclusion that helps us serve the country's vibrant and creative online community". The app was blocked in Bangladesh last year as part of a clampdown on pornography, while Indonesia briefly blocked access over blasphemy concerns. Owned by China's ByteDance, it has also faced increasing controversy over how it collects and uses data although it has repeatedly denied sharing user information with Chinese authorities. The app is facing a possible ban in the United States, after officials said it was a national security risk and President Donald Trump said he wanted it taken out of Chinese hands. Neighbouring India has already banned the app, along with dozens of other Chinese mobile platforms.

A Pakistani entrepreneur has launched the smallest takeaway serving delicious Pakistani food in three used London phone booths with plans to open new franchises across the United Kingdom. Tayyab Shafiq, 25, rented the booths from the Red Kiosk Company which reuses old phone booths. Originally from Lahore, Tayyab Shafiq came to London to study at the University College London (UCL) four years ago. He is a qualified mechanical engineer. “As a young Pakistan Entrepreneur initiating my businesses in the UK, it saddened me that people relate to desi food with Indian cuisine, I want people here to relate to the Pakistani cuisine as much as they do with Indian food” said Tayyab in an interview. Tayyab says he wants promote Pakistani traditions and bring back the golden sparrow image of Pakistan in the most iconic manner. Located just outside the Uxbridge Station on High Street; Tayyab Shafiq has been happily posing for pictures for the English press. His business venture of aromatic biryani has been covered in several British papers. Tayyab said that he started this unique and innovative venture to give another life to the red telephone booths. He added that he wanted to cater to the Pakistani and desi food market in his new venture. “As there are so many Pakistanis in the UK, so I had a vision to do businesses which represents Pakistani culture in the UK and to play my role in strengthening the bond between Pakistan and the UK especially after Brexit when the UK is looking for new business partners. It is a prime opportunity to re-establish the holdings in the UK,” Tayyab said. He said his “smallest takeaway in the world” serves chicken and lamb biryani, dal chawal, samosas, drinks and various other snacks. He gets the food delivered to the booth twice a day and uses electric food warmers to keep the food hot and fresh. The three phone booths are secured by a password protected punching pad and Tayyab plans to install security alarms as well. Asian and, Pakistani food, in particular, has become increasingly popular in the UK with the “Chicken Tikka Masala”, an anglicised version of the Chicken Tikka, being named as Britain’s dish of the year many times. There are millions of Pakistanis in the UK who also offer a huge market for desi cuisine. Tayyab accepted that the place is too small and he struggles to fit himself in as well. “That’s the beauty of this restaurant. There is no place to sit. You can only do takeaway and enjoy food in your own space and in your own area,” said the entrepreneur. As soon as Tayyab opened the restaurant, it caught attention of a reporter, who did a report on it and within hours several media persons descended on the location for interviews. Tayyab is currently renovating the phone booths to completely comply with the local council’s regulations on food. “In two weeks, I am going to completely change the décor and look of the phone booths from inside. To comply, I have to install washing basin and water supply. I am also going to add a lot of Pakistani colour to it such as truck art and other things making it more Pakistani-like,” said Tayyab. He said his landlord was a good man who had given him three cheap booths. “I cannot disclose the deal between us but it’s very cheap. I have invested £800 to start the business.” London’s iconic phone boxes became dysfunctional around five years ago after their utility came to an end. Previously, these booths were used to make telephone calls but then random people started using the space for marketing their products, relaxing on weekends after night outs and sometime for answering the call of nature. The Red Kiosk Company that owns these booths then locked up most of these booths decorated them in bright red to make them a tourist attraction.

A Pakistani drama praised for its progressive portrayal of women has been taken off air after complaints to authorities, a move its creator called a “home-run” for misogynists. The 10-episode series, which launched in August and tracks four women who set up an undercover detective agency to expose unfaithful husbands, has won plaudits for showing strong female characters taking control. It also shows women swearing, drinking and taking drugs, and tackles subjects seen by many in conservative Pakistan as taboo, including sexual abuse and marital rape. This week the series, called Churails (witches), was removed from Zee5, an entertainment platform that was streaming it in Pakistan, without explanation. Indian-based Zee5 did not respond to a request for comment. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority said it contacted the platform after receiving complaints about the show. “We cannot block (content) on our own, but we can write to the platform, which we have done,” the official said on condition of anonymity. Writer and director Asim Abbasi said the decision to remove the show was “predictable, and yet, still disappointing”. “This is not just my loss. This is a loss for women and marginalised communities,” he tweeted. “And it’s a home-run for all the misogynists who have once again proven that they are the only voice that matters.” Actor Nimra Bucha, who plays a murderer in the show, said the cast was saddened by the move. “This is a project that we are extremely proud of. We stand by the story we have told, and the way we have told it,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “This is a very Pakistani story.” Pakistani film critic Omair Alavi said Zee5 had taken a “huge risk” in selecting Churails as the first in a series of Pakistani-directed shows because the drama was “miles apart from what the viewers were accustomed to”. Women’s rights are a contentious issue in Pakistan. This year, right-wingers pelted marchers marking International Women’s Day with stones, shoes and sticks. Organisers said they faced a backlash from conservative elements in the country.

The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) yesterday reported that there has been an increase in the Covid-19 positivity ratio across Pakistan, which is causing policymakers some concern. In an update shared with the media after the meeting, the NCOC said a detailed review of the emerging coronavirus situation in the country was undertaken by the forum after the opening up of various sectors of the economy. “The forum was apprised that there has been a slight increase in the positivity ratio and the number of cases across Pakistan, though the overall situation remains stable,” a statement issued after the meeting read. During the meeting, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umer emphasised that public safety is of the utmost importance and the success of national anti-virus efforts so far should not be allowed to go to waste. After the discussion, the NCOC decided to review the present situation at length and formulate a comprehensive response to check any possible resurgence of Covid-19 to ensure public health and safety. Health experts also briefed the participants on the pattern and prevalence of a possible second wave in the world, and particularly in the region. The participants were informed that there has been a marked decline in following health guidelines on wearing of masks, social distancing and ‘no mask no service’ protocols. “Shaking hands has become a routine in total disregard to public safety and health,” the statement noted.  The statement further said that social events and large public gatherings, particularly in restaurants and marriage halls, have been identified as higher risk activities where guidelines are not being followed as directed by health experts. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has warned that coronavirus may rapidly spread during the winter season. The NIH in an advisory ‘Seasonal Awareness and Alert Letter (Saal)’ has said that diseases such as Covid-19, dengue fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, diphtheria, pertussis, seasonal flu and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid can spread rapidly from October to February. The NIH has advised all health authorities and professionals concerned to declare high alert, and for the timely and efficient response to the outbreaks/epidemics. “On the basis of last five-year data, NIH recommends for all federal, provincial and district health departments to keep continuous surveillance and watch on the anticipated seasonal public health threats and taking of all preventive or curative measures in this context,” NIH said.

The federal cabinet is divided over the issue of an FIR registered against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif blaming him for criminal conspiracy over his recent “provocative speeches” that were made from London. According to sources, during a meeting of the federal cabinet, two federal ministers and a special assistant suggested that the FIR registered against Sharif “should reach its logical conclusion”. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan and other members of the cabinet consistently held that the government was not in favour of exacting political revenge from the opposition. “The government is not involved with this FIR,” Khan was quoted as saying during the meeting. The other ministers, according to sources, were of the opinion that the FIR against Sharif should be dismissed. The FIR registered against Sharif on October 1 was lodged by a citizen in the Shahdra Police Station’s jurisdiction. The case was registered under the provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal conspiracy against the PML-N chief and other leaders. The divide comes a day after Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said the prime minister was unaware of the case and had expressed “extreme displeasure” over it.  “Prime Minister Imran Khan was unaware of any such [first information report] FIR when I informed him about it, he expressed extreme displeasure,” Fawad Chaudhry said in response to journalist Hamid Mir who had shared the copy of FIR.  “Filing treason cases is not our [PTI government’s] policy. These were the tactics [used during] Nawaz Sharif’s tenure,” he said. Meanwhile, responding to the case, Information Minister Shibli Faraz distanced his government from it, saying that someone related to the opposition may have done it. “This FIR can be done by anyone. You can do it against me. I will say that someone from within [the opposition] may have done it,” Faraz told the media in a press conference after the federal cabinet’s meeting. The minister further said the PM and his government should not be involved in the matter.  “Punjab government will find out who did this and investigate it. This has nothing to do with us [federal government],” said Faraz. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Mohamed Zubair has said no-one from the government is ready to take ownership of the treason case against party founder Nawaz Sharif and others. Addressing a press briefing in Lahore yesterday, he said that those who registered the case against the PML-N leaders are the workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He added, “The surprising fact is that three top army generals and two former prime ministers have been nominated in the case.” Zubair maintained that government representatives accuse the PML-N of speaking against the institutions but in fact, they are the ones who are maligning the image of these institutions. The former Punjab governor highlighted, “Imran Khan thought he could scare us by registering the case but he is wrong. We will continue to fight for our rights.” On October 6, a case was registered against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and other party leaders at Shahdara police station in Lahore for ‘conspiring’ against the country and state institutions. The case was registered by a citizen, Badar Rasheed, under Section 10 (cyberterrorism) of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (2016), and sections 120-A (definition of criminal conspiracy), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against Pakistan), 123-A (condemning the creation of the country and advocating the abolishment of its sovereignty), 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said yesterday that he will reach the provincial capital today and try to register a case against Prime Minister Imran Khan based on the allegations made on TV by former director-general of FIA Bashir Memon. “I also want to get a case registered. I will go to Shahdara; my FIR will be against PM Imran Khan,” the PML-N leader said in a news conference in Islamabad. Abbasi noted that Memon had alleged that the Prime Minister told him to register cases against PML-N leader Khawaja Asif under Article 6 of the Constitution. He added the claims made by the former head of the FIA had proven that Khan was “obsessed with the opposition”. Talking about the sedition case registered against former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and other leaders, Abbasi challenged the ministers “distributing certificates of treachery” to becomes witnesses in the case. He also asked where were the ministers distributing those certificates when it came time to defending the case. The PML-N leader further challenged the ministers to come forward and arrest the suspects in the case, asking the government to do an open trial in front of the people of Pakistan. Hitting back at the government, Abbasi asked the ministers to focus on solving the problems of the people. Doubting that this would happen, Abbasi drove home that this was why the Pakistan Democratic Movement was formed — to resolve the problems of the people. Hitting back at the opposition, PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed took aim at the criticism that the government was politically victimising the opposition, stating that multiple cases were registered against Imran Khan by the PML-N government. “PML-N inflicted worst political revenge on Imran Khan for raising [his] voice in the Panama [case],” said Javed. He added that the whole of PTI was victim to the worst political revenge.  “PTI activists from across the country were abducted by police,” alleged the PTI leader. He added that teargas shells was fired upon former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak and his cabinet during the 2014 sit-in organised by the PTI.

Pakistani police filed sedition charges yesterday against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and dozens of his party leaders over comments he made criticising the interference of the military in national politics. Last month, Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League and eight other opposition parties came together to accuse the military of meddling in politics and of rigging elections in 2018 that brought Prime Minister Imran Khan to power. Sharif left Pakistan last November to get medical treatment after being granted bail from a seven-year jail sentence for corruption, though his daughter remains in the country. Sharif, a long-standing critic of the military, denies the corruption charges. “We will ensure a court trial against the accused,” government official Musarrat Cheema told Reuters regarding the sedition charges. In his recent speeches via video links from his London home, Sharif has said the interference of the military in politics was the root cause of all Pakistan’s problems. The sedition case filed against Sharif, his daughter and 44 top party leaders says he has sought in his speeches to isolate Pakistan internationally and have it declared a rogue state. “Convict Nawaz Sharif has been openly inciting the public to commit treason,” said the case, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, adding that it was aimed at maligning the armed forces and the judiciary. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its history since independence in 1947, denies meddling in politics or electoral wrongdoing. The opposition parties have formed a new alliance, known as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), and announced a campaign of nationwide protests to dislodge Khan’s government, saying it has been a failure on all fronts. Sharif’s close aide Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the sedition charges would not deter the opposition’s campaign. “Arrest us, we’re ready for that,” he said. Sharif on Thursday called out the incumbent government for what he termed its “dual standards of accountability”, saying that he can “no longer remain quiet” on the matter. He was addressing a PML-N central working committee meeting via a video link from London. “Nawaz Sharif is not made of the kind of stuff that can remain quiet on dual standards of accountability,” he said, adding that “no-one should try to silence me”. He said that although Prime Minister Imran Khan “is to blame” for the country’s current state, “it is those who brought him into power who are truly responsible”. “They will have to explain,” Sharif had said. As he began his address, he spoke of how it had been a long time since such an address had taken place. “I am addressing you all after a long time. And in these two-and-a-half years we have all endured much.” “But it is with God’s grace we are seeing each other now,” Sharif said. “When I look at the state the country is in, it saddens me deeply,” the former prime minister said. “We were on such a great path to progress and look at where we are now.” Sharif said he sees a world of a difference between the Pakistan of a few years ago and the one before us now. “I do not understand why this has happened.” Sharif’s third term as prime minister ran from 2013 to 2017, when he was removed by the Supreme Court amid revelations over his personal wealth, which he blames on the army generals after he fell out with them over the handling of militants.

The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) has appointed former Sindh governor Mohamed Zubair as the spokesperson of party supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb announced this yesterday. She said Zubair has been appointed as a spokesperson on Sharif’s instructions. She further said that a spokespersons’ committee would also be formed under the guidance of the party’s primary spokesperson and central information secretary. Dr Mussadiq Malik, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Talal Chaudhry, Uzma Bukhari and Ataullah Tarar will be part of the committee. The former governor’s appointment comes after Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar revealed that Zubair twice met the army chief in August and then in September. He said the meeting was held at Zubair’s request. In the meetings Zubair talked about Sharif and Maryam, the DG ISPR added. Later, the former governor also confirmed his meetings saying that he had gone to discuss economic issues. “Of course, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, all came under discussion. No relief was ever requested,” he tweeted.

Prime Minister Imran Khan turned 68 yesterday. As expected, the former cricketer-turned-politician’s birthday was noticed far and wide on Twitter, with both his political supporters as well as his fans from his cricketing days wishing him well. #HappyBirthdayPMImranKhan quickly became the number one Twitter trend in the country. Khan’s former cricket vice-captain and once roommate, Javed Miandad, who recently fell out with him over “political differences” but later apologised after his nephew was appointed a provincial cricket coach — since then withdrawn over age related controversy — was among the first ones to wish him, doing so almost as the date changed to October 5 in the wee hours of yesterday. The Pakistan Cricket Board, whose patron-in-chief the prime minister is, was among the first cricketing bodies to wish him: The International Cricket Council wasn’t far behind: Former SAPM for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, did the same: Indian sports writer Joy Bhattacharjya recalled what PM Imran’s greatest contribution to cricket was. Pak Passion Editor Saj Sadiq described PM Imran as “the greatest ever Pakistani cricketer”. Pakistani film star Shaan appeared to compare PM Imran to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah — the country’s founder — as he wished him health and prosperity and power.

The capital administration of Pakistan’s Islamabad has decided to seal the Federal Government Postgraduate College for Girls in F-7/2 after two people at the institution tested positive for Covid-19. The college will be closed for five days, Islamabad District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said. “We will disinfect the educational institution and try to trace the patients’ contacts. Hopefully, the institution will open after five days but that is not certain,” Dr Zia added. When asked the policy for closing institutions, Dr Zia said schools and colleges will be closed if two or more people test positive during random sampling in a single day. “Moreover, educational institutions can be closed for violations of standard operating procedure (SOP), so educational institutions are frequently directed to follow the SOP to control the virus. After the cases were detected at the educational institution, a recommendation was moved to the deputy commissioner to close the college,” he said. The college will be closed for five days, during which its premises will be disinfected and contact tracing carried out. He added that other educational institutions have also reported single cases, because of which the health department is monitoring them closely. “If the number of cases increases, those institutions will be closed,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said that although the college was sealed, there was a problem with the hostel because a few teachers living there insisted they be allowed to stay.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that there is a fear onset of winter could result in second wave of coronavirus. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. In a tweet yesterday, the prime minister wrote: “Compared to some other states, Allah has been kind to us in Pak and spared us worst effects of Covid-19.” He urged the people to wear face masks in public to avoid increase in Covid-19 cases. “All offices and educational institutions must ensure masks are worn,” he stated. There has been a resurgence of coronavirus cases across the country. It has prompted the authorities to place several coronavirus hotspots under “micro” smart lockdown for two weeks. At least six people died of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours across the country, taking the tally of total number of deaths from the disease to 6,513. The most number of coronavirus cases were reported in Sindh with 138,050 patients, followed by Punjab with 99,812 cases. Similarly, 37,973 coronavirus cases surfaced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 16,766 in Islamabad, and 15,371 in Baluchistan. Several educational institutes have meanwhile been sealed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, after several staff members and students tested positive for the coronavirus. Official sources revealed that after the reopening of educational institutes, the number of coronavirus patients witnessed a surge in the twin cities. Three positive cases were reported in Islamabad Model College for Girls F-7/4, the sources said, adding that they were a servant and two students. The cases were reported during random sampling. According to a notification consequent upon the letters issued from the office of the District Health Officer (DHO), the Islamabad College for Boys, G-6/3, and Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-7/4, are closed for one week. These will be re-opened on October 12, subject to clearance from the DHO’s office. Further, F-7/2 college has also been closed after several students were reported to have contracted the coronavirus. The administration reiterated that all the heads of the institutes should strictly follow the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs), without compromise. At least 30 employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past week. According to a PIMS spokesman, the staff infected with the coronavirus included nurses and doctors. The spokesman said that 10 patients of the coronavirus are undergoing treatment at the PIMS, while the condition of three patients undergoing treatment at the hospital is critical.

The Pakistan High Commission has been unable to get the non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif executed at the Avenfield House nearly a month after the warrants were received here – and the British government has informed Pakistani officials they will not get involved in the matter. Sources within the Pakistan High Commission have said that five attempts were made so far to get the arrest warrants signed and delivered at the Avenfield flats, but there has been no success as neither Nawaz Sharif nor any member of the Sharif family has signed the official papers. Sources in the high commission said that its staff members have made visits to the property’s reception but were unable to meet any member of the family. The latest visit was made on Thursday afternoon by two officials who stayed on Dunraven Street for about ten minutes and left without even approaching the reception. The former prime minister was speaking to his party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting just about five minutes away, from his son Hasan Nawaz’s office. Pakistani diplomats also asked the British government through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help execute the arrest warrants but the British government plainly refused, informing Pakistan officials that the UK government will not interfere in the country’s internal political matters. The sources said the UK has informed the Pakistani officials that getting the arrest warrants executed was not its job and it didn’t have the mandate to enforce warrants. The options for Pakistan High Commission are limited. It can do nothing beyond using the services of Royal Mail and courier services for the “signed and acknowledged” service or get its own staff to get the papers signed. The recipient of the post, in this case, is Nawaz Sharif and it’s entirely up to him to either voluntarily accept or sign the correspondence or not. His staff and family members can also sign and acknowledge the correspondence on his behalf, but that can be done only in a volunteer capacity and they cannot be forced to sign and acknowledge. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed last week that the former prime minister has “refused” to receive non-bailable arrest warrants at his residence in London. The PML-N supremo was declared a proclaimed offender earlier this month and has previously also refused to receive the arrest warrants issued in his name and delivered at the Park Lane address. The federal government has said that it will write another letter to the UK government for the deportation of the former premier, who was allowed to fly to London for medical treatment in November 2019 but was later declared an absconder by some courts in Pakistan. At the IHC, a two-member bench, while hearing Sharif’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia case, had asked about the execution of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest warrants. Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar told the court that Rao Abdul Hanan, a representative of the Pakistan High Commission, reached the Avenfield Apartments to deliver the arrest warrants to the former premier. However, the arrest warrants were not received. “However, the warrants were not received. Every effort was to be made to enforce Nawaz Sharif’s warrants,” Khokhar added. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani suggested that a statement is recorded by the Pakistani mission in London to ensure that the” accused cannot claim in the future that he was not aware”. “The accused knows that he has defeated the whole system.” Justice Mohsin had further stated the PML-N supremo left the country and deceived the government and the people of Pakistan. The hearing of the case was adjourned till October 7. Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the relevant authorities to take measures for bringing back the PML-N leader and to ensure that he faces the cases pending in various Pakistani courts. Khan was quoted as saying: “The process of accountability will continue unabated. The opposition leaders are trying to make state institutions controversial just to avoid the corruption cases lodged against them. The government will however, not get blackmailed.” Last week, several TV channels claimed that Hasan Nawaz Sharif had signed and received the arrest warrants. The papers showed the sign as “Hassan” but Hasan Nawaz informed Pakistani media that his name carries only one ‘S” and not two. He said he had no idea who had signed and received the papers.

In a reference to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said those who were enemies of the Pakistan Army were enemies of the country. He was addressing a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf where he spoke about the planned protest movement to be launched by the country’s opposition parties. Pakistan’s largest opposition parties including the PPP, the PML-N and the JUI-F have formed a multi-party alliance known as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). The PDM has called for PM’s resignation and announced protests all over the country starting October 11 in Quetta. During the party meeting, Khan said there were no tensions in the current civil-military relations between the government and the armed forces. “The opposition has a problem with the army because they [armed forces] always catch their corruption,” he said. The prime minister criticised Sharif’s diatribe against the army, saying that his statements appease India saying, “Nawaz Sharif is toeing India’s narrative.” He said those who were enemies of the armed forces were enemies of Pakistan, calling on the whole nation to stay united “in the face of an Indian conspiracy”. He said the government will defend its institutions. Khan’s comments came a day after PML-N supremo Nawaz lashed out at the security establishment and the government, saying that he will no longer remain silent. He was addressing a PML-N central working committee meeting via a video link from London. “Nawaz Sharif is not made of the kind of stuff who will remain silent on dual standards of accountability,” he said, warning “no-one should try to silence me”. He said although the prime minister is to blame for the country’s current state, “it is those who brought him into power who are truly responsible”. “They will have to explain,” Nawaz had said. As he began his address, he spoke of how it had been a long time since such an address had taken place. “I am addressing you all after a long time. And in these two-and-a-half years we have all endured much.” “But it is with God’s grace we are seeing each other now,” Nawaz had said. “When I look at the state the country is in, it saddens me deeply,” the former prime minister had said. “We were on such a great path to progress and look at where we are now.” Nawaz said he sees a world of a difference between the Pakistan of a few years ago and the one before us now. “I do not understand why this has happened.” “We were so prosperous until 2018. Our tenure lasted 2013-2018 and with your prayers and God’s mercy and your support from 2013-2017, I was prime minister,” he had said. “I and my team sitting here and also those not here, such as Shahbaz Sharif who is in jail, are paying for crimes not committed together.” “These are not empty words, you yourself have witnessed the fruits of our efforts,” Nawaz had said.

Firebrand cleric and chief of his own faction of Pakistan Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been unanimously elected as the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a newly formed opposition alliance. The consensus candidate emerged following a virtual session of the PDM attended amongst others by deposed prime minister and leading opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, who currently resides in London; Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari; Balochistan National Party chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other senior politicians. The meeting discussed the country’s prevailing political situation including the decisions taken during the All Parties Conference (APC) last month to topple the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government.Sources said the PML-N had suggested the name of Rehman for the PDM chairmanship which was approved by all parties unanimously. The name of PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal has been agreed upon for the post of PDM’s secretary-general. Members from other political parties will be given the positions of vice-president. At the APC held last month amid much fanfare, the opposition alliance demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and announced a countrywide protest campaign. The alliance also demanded that the powerful military establishment not only refrain from “interfering in politics” but also confine to its role as defined in the Constitution. The PDM also issued a 26-point resolution and a seven-point action plan, including the demand for free, fair, transparent elections without any role of the armed forces and agencies.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Syed Shibli Faraz yesterday said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was criticising state institutions to protect his assets made through corruption. Talking to media in Islamabad, he said it is unfortunate that a three-time prime minister of the country is making anti-state speeches. He said Sharif made assets of billions of rupees abroad through money laundering. He urged the former prime minister to explain his assets abroad instead of beating about the bush. He contrasted that with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who, Faraz said, had provided money trail in court. The minister said the people of Pakistan gave three chances to Sharif to rule Pakistan, but he ruined the country’s economy and its institutions. He said former rulers wasted $23 billion to artificially control the value of greenback. Faraz said the government and the judiciary, while showing sympathy, allowed Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment, but in response the ex-PM was busy in weakening the country. Regarding Sharif’s allegations of rigging in last general elections, the minister said the Sharifs were “professional liars”. He recalled that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had launched a movement in the opposition and demanded the opening of a mere four constituencies in General Election 2013 (to verify their claims of a rigged election). He said around 487 election petitions were filed by various political parties, while the majority of them was submitted by the PTI. He said in 2018 elections, 287 election petitions were filed and 90 of them were about National Assembly constituencies. He said 45 of those 90 petitions were filed by PTI where its candidates had lost elections with a margin of 50 to 2000 votes. He said Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz considers Punjab its stronghold, where the total election petitions were 13 of which 11 belonged to PML-N. “What an irony it is that after the lapse of two years, Sharif is now talking of rigging. They should have followed the due process instead of maligning the entire election proceedings,” Faraz noted. He said the Sharifs were trying to mislead the people but would not succeed in their nefarious designs. He alleged Sharif was blackmailing the government and state institutions to hide his corruption. But he vowed the government was determined to go after the corrupt regardless of the consequences. Speaking about the government’s efforts to reduce inflation, Faraz said there was sufficient stock of wheat and sugar in the country. He said the government was working on evolving a strategy to ensure essential items like flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, and other things at affordable rates to the general public.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a prohibition order to all satellite news channels barring the broadcast and repeat broadcast of speeches, interviews and public addresses by proclaimed offenders and absconders on national television. Pemra also barred the broadcast of any sort of debate on the possible outcomes of sub-judice matters. Although the order came after speeches by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were aired on national television, Pemra referred to a complaint by an individual, Mohamed Azhar Siddique, against the airing of speeches by a proclaimed offender. The regulator referred to its own directive made in October 2019, and said that Pemra has already directed all satellite television channel licensees to form an in-house committee to ensure compliance with the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015. Pemra referred to Supreme Court decisions made in 2016 and 2019 and warned that any channel that fails to comply with the authority’s directives will face action under sections 29 and 30 of the Pemra Ordinance, which includes the imposition of fines and the suspension of the licence. However, Pemra has until now ignored SC directives and did not issue notices to any channels airing Sharif’s previous speeches recently. The notice issued referred to the Pakistan Law Digest 2016, Karachi 238, which states that a proclaimed offender or absconder is not legally entitled to enjoy the privileges that an ordinary citizen enjoys, and an absconder is normally not supposed to enjoy certain rights. The apex court in 2016 had observed that there were 59,267 absconders in the country and they were likely to be enjoying facilities available to ordinary citizens such as banking services, property transfers, physical movement, obtaining SIM cards and so on. The court stated: “If they have been enjoying such rights then the purpose and object of declaration of one as absconder/proclaimed offender never served its objective nor would so, if allowed to continue in the hearts of the files only.” Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) criticised the government and Pemra for imposing a ban on the broadcast of speeches by political leadership of the country, through a prohibition order issued after Nawaz Sharif’s address to the Central Working Committee via video link from London.                      In joint statement PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi alleged that Pemra was following dual standards in taking dictation from those who are against media and freedom of speech as earlier the very same authority rejected a request to ban the broadcasting speeches of retired military strongman Pervez Musharaf and rabble rousing Pakistan Awami Tehrik leader Alama Tahir ul Qadri who have been absconding since long. PFUJ urged the government to ensure freedom of speech and expression in the country guaranteed to citizens in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan and avoid practising dual standards and interface in the working of Pemra. “There is need to make Pemra a truly autonomous and independent body instead of it following the dictates of the government and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” the statement concluded.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly was the most-watched video among world leaders on the UN’s YouTube page with more than 170,000 views since it was uploaded on the video-sharing platform on September 25. Coming in second is US President Donald Trump’s UNGA address with close to 140,000 views since it was uploaded on September 22. In third place is Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s speech, which has more than 95,000 views since it was uploaded on September 23. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UNGA speech was viewed a little more than 60,000 times since it was uploaded on September 26. PM Imran had used his UNGA address to warn the international community that India was planning another “ill-conceived misadventure” in a “nuclearised environment,” but Pakistan was ready to “fight for its freedom to the end”. He had also urged the UN Security Council to play its role in preventing this dangerous conflict, which could jeopardise the entire region. Commenting on the Afghan peace process, the premier said Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region manifested in its efforts to promote a political solution in Afghanistan. “I have consistently maintained over the past two decades that there is no military solution to the decades-old-conflict in Afghanistan,” he had said. “The only way forward was and is a political settlement which involves the full spectrum of Afghanistan’s political actors.” Imran had also drawn attention to Islamophobia, and urged the international community to avoid blaming Muslims for every bad incident in the world, to stop ridiculing their religious figures and not to desecrate their religious places.

Afghanistan’s top peace official, Abdullah Abdullah has said he did not expect the result of the upcoming US presidential election to dramatically change the afghan peace process or troop withdrawal plans. President Donald Trump’s administration this year brokered peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban to end 19 years of war, and the United States is pulling out its troops under a deal with the militant group signed in February. The withdrawal is expected to be complete in May, subject to certain security guarantees. Trump is currently lagging behind Democrat challenger Joe Biden in polls ahead of the November 3 election. “Nobody can say with certainty what would be the impact of the outcome of the elections in the United States but based on my experiences and interactions, the policy will not change that much,” said Abdullah, who is the senior official overseeing peace talks by the afghan negotiating team in Doha. “Neither Democrats nor Republicans would want to see all the gains or all the sacrifices they have made in Afghanistan in vain…(or) be hurt once again from Afghanistan or because of Afghanistan,” he told Reuters in an interview at the end of a three-day visit to Pakistan. Abdullah also said that an upcoming conference in Geneva in November, at which governments will pledge financial support to bolster the peace process, would also be “one of the things in our mind” as they try to build momentum at the negotiating table. United States special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday flew to Doha to meet negotiators, who two diplomatic sources said have been deadlocked over setting a process for negotiations in part due to the Taliban insistence that the US-Taliban agreement be used as a basis. During his visit to Islamabad, Abdullah had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as the president and foreign minister. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been rocky. Afghanistan officials — including Abdullah — and its international allies have for years accused Pakistan of backing the Taliban insurgents as a way to limit the influence of old rival India in afghanistan. But Abdullah said that he believed there had a been a change in recent years in Pakistan’s approach, adding that they still had influence over the Taliban leadership, though the degree was at times exaggerated. “It was communicated to the Taliban that it was important for them, it’s important to their relations with Pakistan that they sit around the negotiating table,” he said, saying that had helped to break decades of the Taliban refusing to sit down for talks. “Today that has changed,” he said. “I do consider this as an important development.”