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The three major political parties of Karachi, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) met to discuss the city’s issues in two separate meetings that were held in Islamabad and Karachi. Sources said that it was decided in the meetings to form an advisory committee and a liaison committee to solve the metropolis’ problems. The Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Saeed Ghani and Nasir Shah represented the provincial government at one of the meetings. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, federal ministers Asad Umar and Ali Zaidi, and Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar were in attendance as well. Sources further said that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman Lieutenant-General Mohamed Afzal was at the meeting as well. Discussions revolved around the role of the NDMA in the development of Karachi. It was decided that members of the Centre and Sindh government would form an advisory committee to resolve the city’s issues. The MQM-P’s Aamir Khan said in a tweet that Karachi’s problems cannot be resolved without first granting full authority to the locals. “The problem of Karachi cannot be solved until the local people have full authority. This will only be possible when new provinces are established across the country, including Karachi,” he said. PPP leader Raza Rabbani said that Karachi is a part of Sindh and will continue to remain so, adding that the PTI had previously issued a statement as well on the separation of the city from the province. Speaking at a press conference after the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, the former Senate chairman said that these statements from the PTI leadership were not new. “Ever since the PPP government has been formed (in Sindh) and the PTI came to power (nationally), such statements have been issued,” he said, adding that the PTI has previously issued statements as well on imposing governor rule in Sindh. “There is nothing new about this,” he stressed. Rabbani, without naming anyone in particular, said that “some people want to place Karachi under the Centre and seize its revenue”. Criticising the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the PPP leader said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s judgment in the Khawaja brothers case had “exposed” the anti-graft body. He said that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) had also “exposed” the NAB. Clarifying that the party had not changed its stance on the 18th Amendment, Rabbani said that the party will “not compromise” on it. Separately, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah welcomed the meeting between the PTI, the PPP and the MQM-P as a step in the right direction for the betterment of Karachiites. “The collaboration between the PPP, the PTI and the MQM-P to work for the betterment of Karachi will prove to be an important milestone,” he said. He added that Sindh, especially Karachi, was developed tremendously under the leadership of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “The Sindh government will welcome every person or political party that wants to play a part in developing Karachi,” Shah added. Referring to the recent monsoon spell which wreaked havoc in the metropolis, the provincial minister said the Sindh government had welcomed the Centre and the NDMA in its efforts to clear Karachi’s nullahs. “Steps taken by the Sindh chief minister for Karachi cannot be forgotten,” he added. The meeting between the three political parties to resolve Karachi’s issues came after the Supreme Court of Pakistan lashed out at the Sindh government over the lack of cleanliness in Karachi, stating in its remarks that the provincial authorities had “completely failed”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s economic indicators are improving to herald and paving way for an industrial Pakistan. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. In his message to nation on its 74th Independence Day, the prime minister said that no other country has managed to maintain a balance between saving lives and livelihood as had been accomplished by Pakistan. Khan said that initially, the government had been concerned about deaths due to both the coronavirus and hunger caused by a lockdown. However, thanks to the government’s decision of smart lockdowns, coronavirus cases are declining and the economy is on the path to revival. Khan warned however that the war against coronavirus is not over, and that challenges remain. The prime minister advised people to continue adhering to precautions of social distancing to avert a resurgence of the coronavirus. He said that the uplift of the construction sector would benefit 40 connected industries to create jobs and wealth, which would consequently enhance the government’s tax collection. Meanwhile, the cabinet’s Committee on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has expressed satisfaction over the progress of CPEC projects. The committee met in Islamabad, with Minister for Planning Asad Umar in the chair, and reviewed the progress of the CPEC. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Lt General (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa briefed the committee about the progress of various CPEC projects being executed across the country. Bajwa said that the officials from the relevant ministries reaffirmed their full commitment to accelerate work on the CPEC projects. In a series of tweets, Umar said that the cabinet committee reviewed progress of CPEC projects during the financial year 2019-20. He said that in the power sector, two projects with capacity of 1,980MW were commissioned, while the ground-breaking of another had been completed. Similarly, the financial close of two projects was achieved and concession agreements of two hydel projects of 1,800MW capacity were signed. China is to supply a coronavirus vaccine candidate being developed by a unit of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) to Pakistan as part of a trial agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported. State-owned Sinopharm is set to work with the University of Karachi on vaccine trials, according to the Wall Street Journal report, which said that Pakistan will receive enough doses early in distribution to vaccinate about one-fifth of its population. The initial doses will be used to vaccinate the most vulnerable among the Pakistani population, including the elderly, healthcare workers and people with medical conditions associated with serious cases of Covid-19, the report added. Earlier in April, Sinopharm had invited the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its inactivated vaccine for Covid-19 in Pakistan. In a letter sent to NIH executive director Major-General Dr Aamer Ikram, China Sinopharm International Corporation general manager Li Can had expressed the hope that “a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of [the] first few countries for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine”. Ikram had then said that although clearances were needed for the purpose, the collaboration could be “a great thing for Pakistan”. Meanwhile, researchers have said that Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine candidate appeared to be safe and triggered antibody-based immune responses in early and mid-stage trials. The candidate vaccine has already moved into a late-stage trial, one of a handful of candidates being tested on several thousand people to see if they are effective enough to win regulatory approval. Sinopharm is also testing the potential vaccine in the United Arab Emirates in a Phase 3 trial expected to recruit 15,000 people, as China has too few new cases to be a useful trial site. The potential vaccine did not cause any serious side effects, according to a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by scientists who are part of Sinopharm and other China-based disease control authorities and research institutes. The results were based on data from 320 healthy adults in Phase 1 and 2 trials. The candidate vaccine triggered robust antibody responses in inoculated people, but it remains unknown if that is sufficient to prevent coronavirus infection, researchers developing the vaccine said in the paper. Sinopharm’s chairman told state media last month that a potential vaccine could be ready by the end of this year, with Phase 3 testing expected to be completed in about three months. The novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 750,000 people globally, has prompted a race to develop a vaccine. More than 150 candidate vaccines are being developed and tested around the world. Russia became the first country to grant regulatory approval to a vaccine after less than two months of human testing, and a shot developed by Chinese firm CanSino Bilogics has been cleared for use in the military. China is leading the development of at least eight vaccine candidates in different stages of clinical trials.

The nation celebrated its 74th Independence Day yesterday with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state. Prayers were offered for the security and progress of Pakistan and well-being of the people. The national flag was hoisted at all important public and private buildings. Public and private buildings as well as streets, bazaars and markets have been profusely illuminated and decorated with the national flag, portraits of founding fathers, and posters. Tech giant Google, following its tradition, marked Pakistan’s Independence Day by dedicating a doodle on its homepage. The doodle is green in colour and shows the historic Khojak Tunnel in Baluchistan. In the past, Google’s doodles have drawn inspiration from the Lahore Fort, Khyber Pass, and the Indus Valley Civilization. A special ceremony was held in connection with Independence Day at Hazoori Bagh in Lahore yesterday, where Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar hoisted the national flag. The day dawned with a 21-gun salute in the provincial metropolis, followed by a change of guard ceremony at Mazar-e-Iqbal. A change of guard ceremony was also held at mausoleum of Dr Allama Mohamed Iqbal in connection with the Independence Day. A contingent of the Pakistan Army assumed the guard duties at the Mazar-e-Iqbal. In Karachi, the change of guard ceremony took place at Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah. A contingent of 64 cadets of the Pakistan Navy assumed the honorary guard duties at the mausoleum. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, cabinet members and other high rankings officials attended the ceremony. The day dawned in the provincial capital with 21-gun salutes, while special prayers were offered at mosques for the country’s safety prosperity and development. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the main function in connection with 74th Independence Day was held at Peshawar’s Police Lines. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan hoisted the national flag at the ceremony. Collective prayers were made for development and prosperity of the country and liberation of Indian-administered Kashmir. Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at Divisional and District Administration offices across the province. Earlier in the morning, a 21-gun salute was held in Peshawar to mark the Independence Day. In Quetta, the main flag hoisting ceremony was held at the lawn of Baluchistan Assembly in the morning, with Baluchistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan hoisting the national flag. The day began with a 21-gun salute in the provincial capital. Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the journey towards Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan has begun for rule of law and towards an Islamic welfare state, premised on compassion. In a series of tweets yesterday, he congratulated the nation on successfully tackling the coronavirus pandemic and upturning the economy after two years of struggle. Khan said that the poor people are protected through cash support and smart lockdowns. He said the country’s current account and fiscal deficits are down, and the construction industry is taking off because of the government’s special incentives. The prime minister said that the stock market, exports, revenues as well as sales of cement and car, are up. Khan also congratulated the nation for fixing the “damaged” structure the government inherited in power sector. He said that after long negotiations, the government has signed new agreement with IPPs (independent power producers), which will bring down cost of power generation and reduce circular debt. He said that the next reform target is the power distribution system. In his message to Kashmiri brethren, the prime minister said that Pakistan stands united with them in their struggle to self-determination. He said Pakistan will provide them with all the support at all levels.

The nation will mark Independence Day today with renewed resolve to work with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state. The day will dawn with a 31-gun salute in the Federal Capital, and a 21-gun salute in the provincial headquarters. Prayers will be offered for the security and progress of Pakistan and the people. It will be a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted at all important public and private buildings. The main feature of the celebrations will be a national flag hoisting ceremony at President House Islamabad. President Dr Arif Alvi will be the chief guest on the occasion. Similar flag hoisting ceremonies will also be held at provincial, divisional and district headquarters level throughout the country. Public and private buildings as well as streets, bazaars and markets have been profusely illuminated. National flags, buntings, portraits of founding fathers, posters and banners are also seen everywhere as part of the celebration of Independence Day.

Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the long-awaited Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project yesterday. Addressing participants of the ceremony, the premier said that this was “the best metro bus project in the country”. Khan said that this will have an impact in Peshawar, as the city has one main artery that stretches from GT Road to Hayatabad, which becomes congested when under pressure, resulting in people being stuck in traffic for hours, causing pollution and petrol wastage. He maintained that the main artery is 27km long while the feeder routes are 60km. “This means that all of city will be connected,” the prime minister said, adding that it is a modern transport system covering Peshawar in its entirety. Khan admitted to having “reservations” about the project. “I want to say I had reservations about the project. Today, I want to pay tribute to Pervez Khattak because he always said that you will realise the importance of this project once it is completed. “So all I want to say is that (Defence Minister) Pervez Khattak was right, and we turned out to be wrong.” The premier also said that the ticket prices for the Peshawar BRT were “just right”. “Our programmes should give priority to improving the lives of the common man. Everyone can afford the ticket which ranges from Rs10 to Rs50.” There are also tickets for students to make travelling easier for them and hospitals have been connected so people will no longer face difficulties in this regard, he said. He added that the project will eventually increase the per capita income in Peshawar and bring prosperity. “When you have a good transport system, it brings change.” The project, built at a cost of Rs70bn, is a 27.5km corridor track, with 31 stations and seven feeder routes stretching 62km, with 146 stops to facilitate thousands of passengers every day, according to Radio Pakistan. Shortly after the inauguration ceremony, the premier, who was accompanied by Defence Minister Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and other government officials, was given a briefing on the functioning of the project. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Khan had said that the initial deadline set by Khattak, who is also the former chief minister, was a mistake. However, he had launched the project to benefit the people of the provincial capital, he had said. He had added that the government would gradually meet all those things which the project lacked. Earlier, Prime Minister Khan also launched the Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme in Khyber district to prevent stunted growth in children. Footage aired on TV showed the premier planting a sapling and giving polio drops to a young child, before being given a briefing by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar. According to Radio Pakistan, Rs8.52bn have been allocated for the programme, under which deserving families will be provided nutritious food and a quarterly stipend. In the first phase, 33 centres will be established in nine districts of the country, all of which will be established by the end of the month, the report said. Work on the bus project was launched in October 2017 by the then-chief minister Khattak, and a deadline of six months for its completion at a cost of Rs49bn. However, frequent design changes and retrofitting caused the project to miss the first deadline, and increased its cost by Rs17bn, to a staggering Rs66.43bn. Thereafter, the project managers changed the launch dates multiple times. The project was still not launched due to various issues. Meanwhile, a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probe ordered by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) into alleged corruption in the BRT project was stopped in September 2018 by a Supreme Court bench headed by former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar. In December 2019, the High Court ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the alleged corruption. A five-member FIA team formed in line with the court’s judgment submitted its report to the court at the end of January. However, the Supreme Court stopped the probe in February.

The Punjab government has closed down coronavirus wards in three government-run hospitals in the city, leaving the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) the dedicated facility for patients of the disease, following a reported decrease in cases. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. All the filter clinics and wards for Covid-19 patients at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH), and the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) have been closed and patients will be referred to the RIU from now on. The three hospitals have restarted routine activities and are treating all kinds of patients in various departments. The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare department had established a 196-bed facility for Covid-19 patients at the BBH. This included 140 beds in wards, with 70 beds attached to oxygen supply and 30 ventilators in the intensive care unit (ICU). The HFH had a 100-bed facility, including a 41-bed isolation ward, 16 ventilators, and 43 oxygen-attached beds in the ICU. A 14-bed facility with four beds in the isolation ward, five ventilators and five oxygen-attached beds in the ICU was set up at the DHQ Hospital. The provincial government also set up two 120-bed field hospitals in the Shehbaz Sharif Sports Complex in Shamsabad and the Red Crescent Hospital. BBH medical superintendent Dr Raffique Ahmed said that the hospital closed its wards on the Punjab government’s directives, as the RIU was made the dedicated hospital for Covid-19 treatment. “All the patients will be tested there and admitted in its wards,” he said. He said all the patients were moved to the RIU soon after the government’s directives were received. However, the BBH has not closed the ICU, as there are no gynaecology or surgery facilities at the RIU to treat pregnant women with Covid-19 or other patients who need critical care. Patients with other conditions who need dialysis or who have other diseases will be treated at the BBH in the coming days, he said, but no such patients have been admitted to the hospital yet since the number of patients has decreased. HFH medical superintendent Dr Shahzad Ahmed said that while their Covid-19 ward has closed, they have made arrangements to provide care to patients who visit the hospital with unrelated concerns and test positive for Covid-19 during the pathological examination. “We are not dealing with new and stable Covid-19 patients in hospitals, and these patients are being referred to the RIU for treatment, where the government has made arrangements for them,” he said. The RIU has been active and dedicated as Rawalpindi division’s Covid-19 hospital and will take all kinds of Covid-19 patients, Commissioner Captain (retired) Mohamed Mehmood said. He said that a helpline has been set up at the institute to provide the public with information on the coronavirus, and a counselling section has been established there to follow-up on Covid-19 patients or any new information about the disease. While the Covid-19 cases have decreased, dengue virus wards have been activated in three government hospitals due to the threat of the mosquito-borne disease. The BBH, the HFH, and the DHQ have activated their dengue wards and established counters to deal with dengue patients. Four dengue patients have reported in the garrison city so far. One patient came from HFH Staff Colony, two from cantonment areas – Banaras Colony and Range Road, and another from Fazal Town near Chaklala Scheme-III. “Two dengue counters have been established at the BBH emergency department and outdoor patients department. A total of 31 beds have been established for the dengue patients in the first phase,” the BBH’s Dr Raffique Ahmed said. At present, no suspected patient has arrived in the hospital. “We are ready to face the new challenge of dengue. The doctors and all staff in the hospital will face the challenge of dengue virus after coronavirus,” he said. He said laboratory tests of dengue patients would be conducted within the hospital and the required machinery has been activated. The HFH’s Dr Shahzad Ahmed said that the dengue ward had been activated in the hospital’s emergency and OPD (outpatient department). “We made two plans to deal with dengue patients: in the first phase a 50-bed ward has been activated, and the number of beds would be increased in the coming days as per requirements,” he said. Ahmed said that a hospital staff member was infected by the dengue virus after visiting Karachi and Peshawar. The dengue surveillance was conducted in the staff colony but no dengue larvae were found in the area. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid visited the garrison city and reviewed the arrangements. Commissioner Mehmood apprised the minister of the dengue prevention activities in the district. The minister directed the officials to scale up the surveillance. She said that although dengue is under control, its prevention required the collaborative effort of all departments. The minister said: “Our health departments have made adequate arrangements to control dengue.” All the commissioners and deputy commissioners have been directed to personally supervise the dengue control activities. Local administrations must identify hotspots. “I urge all the citizens to stay vigilant about possible mosquito breeding sites. By adopting the framework developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, we were able to reduce coronavirus cases. “All necessary measures are being taken in Punjab to control corona, dengue and polio,” she said. Meanwhile, metro bus services in Islamabad and sister city Rawalpindi were restored yesterday. The administration has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for travel on the service. Under the issued SOPs, it will be prohibited to travel while standing on the bus, and passengers will only be able to travel if they are seated as per social distancing rules. In addition, it has been made mandatory for passengers to wear masks and abide by preventative measures to ensure the safety of passengers. The metro bus service was suspended on March 23. Earlier, Planning, and Development Minister Asad Umar had said that dine-in restaurants and beauty salons would reopen across Pakistan on August 10 as the efforts against the coronavirus pandemic had borne fruit. He had added that a review on the decision to reopen educational institutes on September 15 would be done on September 7. Businesses would go back to their normal pre-coronavirus timings as well. The move to reopen the country came following a meeting of the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) and discussion on recommendations in the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), he had said, referring to the primary body overlooks the efforts against the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan. Umar heads the NCOC.

The Punjab government yesterday said action will be taken against those involved in stone-pelting and damaging state property outside the Lahore office of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) at the time of Maryam Nawaz’s appearance in a land purchase case. Punjab Minister for Law, Raja Basharat, said PML-N has repeated its “history of attacking the Supreme Court”, adding that constitutional institutions and law enforcement agencies are not safe from the PML-N’s “hooligans”. Maryam Nawaz was summoned in an individual capacity, but she organised a rally here, Basharat said. “The government took all measures to establish its writ and action will be taken against all those who gathered there illegally and those who pelted stones at police officers stationed there,” he said. Basharat said stones were brought under the security protocol of Maryam. After reaching the area, they were distributed among workers and thrown at NAB and police. “Maryam claims she was summoned to cause her harm. She was called to answer for the crimes she has committed,” the minister said. Some people have been arrested, while others are being identified through CCTV footage. “Cases will be registered against PML-N workers who injured police officers and caused damage to government property.” “This is not a claim anymore. Everything was visible on the media. The government will take its case forward on the footage provided by media,” he said. Action will be taken against all those arrested and others involved, as it is the responsibility of the government to do so. “All of this was done on the behest of Maryam,” he added. Punjab Minister for Information Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan said that for the first time in 20 years since the establishment of NAB, the windows of the anti-graft watchdog’s building have been broken and that Maryam has carried forward her family’s traditions of “launching attacks” against law enforcement agencies. The minister claimed Maryam’s move was the outcome of the internal politics of her party. “Neither will I play, nor will I let anyone play, this is what Maryam had in mind when she came to appear before NAB,” he said. The minister claimed that this act was a “suicide attack” on Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz’s politics, and she has “ended the politics of PML-N”. Chohan claimed that nearly Rs1mn was distributed among people at Jati Umra. “Every worker who pelted stones was awarded Rs25,000, those who threw stones at Maraym’s car were given Rs100,000 in advance,” he said, adding that all of this was done on Pervez Rashid’s advice. “It took them eight days to come up with this plan as very few of their workers were ready to partake in the rally today,” he said.

Pakistan lifted yesterday restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced that cinemas, theatres, gyms, public points and dine-in restaurants would be permitted to reopen across the country from August 10 (yesterday), subject to the implementation of coronavirus safety guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Shopping malls and other businesses are set to remain open as per the pre-lockdown timings. Tourist destinations all across the country – which received a boost when the government decided to allow hotels to reopen there – saw the revival of business there as people flocked to take in the sights and enjoy after months of being forced to remain indoors. However, educational institutions and wedding halls will remain closed till September 15. Face masks and social distancing are mandatory in public places. The government has said that it would monitor whether the SOPs are being implemented or not. After the announcement, people rushed to tourist spots with their families, some travelled back in search of lost jobs, while others were seen roaming freely in areas that were under the lockdown. Tourists flocked to Naran, Kaghan, Nathiagali, Murree, Swat, and other tourist destinations in the Hazara division, where police, along with officials of the health department, were on the road to facilitate them. “After the lockdown restrictions eased around the country, our favourite places are reopening their doors to welcome us once again,” said Sami Shabbi, an overjoyed tourist in Murree. A group of youths in Murree regretted that a large number of people flocked to popular tourist sites and major cities over the weekend despite warnings from health authorities that the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic remained far from over. Pakistan reported its first coronavirus case on February 26 and enforced a countrywide lockdown in March and started sealing off virus hotspots from May. Health ministry data yesterday showed that 539 new cases and 15 deaths were reported during the last 24 hours. In total, the country has recorded 284,660 cases and confirmed 6,097 deaths. So far, more than 80% of people infected with the disease have recovered. Medics have meanwhile reiterated concerns that infections may increase again in the country. “The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is surprised over the decision to open all sectors at the same time,” said Qasier Sajjad, the secretary-general for the association of doctors. He said that the government had taken the decision in haste and it was feared that infections may increase again putting pressure on the country’s fragile healthcare system. According to the PMA, at least 101 doctors and 24 paramedics died from Covid-19. Prime Minister Imran Khan meanwhile urged the nation to refrain from flouting the SOPs during Muharram. Speaking at a ceremony in the federal capital, he lauded the Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Tiger Force volunteers for their role in supporting the government’s coronavirus response. “Today Pakistan is among those few countries that have successfully managed to control the pandemic,” Khan said, adding that the world now recognises Pakistan’s successful strategy. “Wear a mask every time you leave the house,” he said, adding that not wearing one would amount to being “ungrateful”. The prime minister appealed to those attending majlis and mourning processions to adopt precautionary measures. “This is a time for precaution. If God has blessed us, we need to be thankful, and wear a mask,” he said. According to NCOC data, the number of tests, which had dropped to around 11,000 during Eid al-Adha, has increased again, with 23,390 people having been tested across the country during the past 24 hours. In Sindh, 10,001 people were tested for Covid-19, followed by Punjab with 7,114, Islamabad 2,931, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2,314, Baluchistan 697, Gilgit-Baltistan 117, and in Azad Kashmir 216 people. The NCOC said that only 153 ventilators, out of 1,859 allocated for the Covid-19 patients, were in use across the country. There was no patient on ventilator in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, or Baluchistan. It said only 1,334 patients were being treated in 735 hospitals with Covid-19 facilities in the country. The first Covid-19 case was reported in Pakistan in the last week of February. On March 13, a meeting of the National Security Committee, comprising the civilian and military leadership, was held to discuss the crisis which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Prime Minister Khan, who had chaired the meeting, directed the relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease. A countrywide lockdown was announced on March 16 and a number of industries, educational institutions, restaurants and marriage halls were closed. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was involved to ensure the availability of medical equipment and health-related supplies at the earliest.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president-elect Volkan Bozkir called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office (FO) yesterday. Qureshi welcomed the visiting dignitary who also planted a sapling at the office as part of the government’s plantation campaign. According to a statement by the FO, both leaders had wide-ranging talks on issues relating to the three main pillars of the United Nations’ work: peace and security, development, and human rights. Bozkir had initially been scheduled to visit Pakistan last month, but postponed his visit due to “some technical flight problems”. The Turkish diplomat was elected president of the 75th session of the UNGA in June. The FO statement said that Bozkir’s visit to Pakistan is an important opportunity to “highlight Pakistan’s strong and substantive contributions to the United Nations efforts in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, especially through our contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations around the world”.

At least six people were killed and more than a dozen wounded in a bomb blast yesterday in southwestern Pakistan, an official said. A bomb planted on a motorbike went off in the heart of the city of Chaman, which borders Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. “At least six people were killed and 20 others were wounded in the blast,” Mohamed Iqbal, a regional police official, told DPA. It is feared the number of dead will go up, he said. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far. A vehicle carrying personnel from the country’s anti-narcotic force was believed to be the target of the blast, senior police official Razzaq Cheema told AFP. Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the Chaman blast and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. Interior Minister Ejaz Shah said in a statement that “such attacks are aimed at spreading fear among the people”. Information Minister Shibli Faraz and Baluchistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan have also strongly denounced the incident. Kamal Khan said that terrorists want to create law and order issue in Chaman, but insisted that they will not succeed.

Continuing their criticism of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the country’s main opposition parties – the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – have asked the NAB chairman, retired Justice Javed Iqbal, to step down after recent observations by the superior courts regarding the agency’s functioning and appointments, and a damning report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) of the agency’s use as a political tool. “Instead of sending notices to political opponents (of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government), the NAB chairman should resign,” said PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb in a statement. She alleged that the NAB was in contempt of court by leaking information to the media about the cases against people even before formally filing a reference. Aurangzeb recalled that the Supreme Court in its verdict had mentioned that the NAB was involved in media trial of people and also directed the agency not to leaj any information to the media before filing a reference. “Releasing news reports to the media through ‘sources’ is a violation and an insult of the verdicts of the Supreme Court and the high courts,” she said. “Why the NAB is still functioning after the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Khawaja Saad Rafique case?” she asked while referring to the July 21 verdict of the apex court in the Paragon City case. In the verdict, the court had described the NAB’s conduct in dealing with the housing society corruption case as a manifestation of utter disregard to law, fair play, equity and propriety, and termed it “a classic example of trampling of fundamental rights, unlawful deprivation of freedom, and liberty and the complete disregard for human dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution”. “The Bureau seems reluctant in proceeding against people on one side of the political divide, even in respect of financial scams of massive proportion, while those on the other side are being arrested and incarcerated for months and years without providing any sufficient cause, even when the law mandates investigations to be concluded expeditiously and trial to be concluded within 30 days,” the verdict had said. Besides the courts, Aurangzeb said, the Council of Islamic Ideology, legal and constitutional experts, and many bar associations had exposed “the black face” of the NAB. “After the decisions of the courts and the report of the HRW, how can the NAB chairman gather courage to send notices to the people?” she asked. Meanwhile, speaking at a news conference, PPP Senator Moula Bakhsh Chandio said that the NAB had lost its credibility, and that an institution with no credibility should be dissolved. He said the HRW report showed the NAB had become an institution for victimisation, run by “unprofessional people”. The HRW through its report had urged the PTI government to “stop using the NAB to detain its critics” and said that the country’s parliament should carry out reforms to make the anti-graft body independent. In a media statement, the HRW had said the authorities should investigate and prosecute the NAB officials responsible for unlawful arrests and other abuses. The HRW report had also mentioned the Supreme Court’s verdict, saying that “the Pakistani Supreme Court judgment is just the latest indictment of the NAB’s unlawful behaviour”. Meanwhile, PPP information secretary and member of the National Assembly (MNA) Dr Nafisa Shah called for the release of information about appointments in the NAB. She alleged that the appointments had been made in the NAB without merit, and the favourites had been given lucrative offices with the aim if victimising the opposition. Shah said in a statement that the Supreme Court had also raised a question over the appointments in the NAB, and that the agency had no justification to continue its actions against opposition leaders.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazlur (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he has no plans to meet Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, amid uncertainty over the Opposition’s All Parties Conference (APC), which was scheduled to be held after the Eid. The JUI-F chief, when asked about the meeting of the Rahbar Committee of the APC, said that no meeting had been scheduled, as there was “no use for such meetings when the leaders do not stand by their commitments”. Declining to talk about the APC, Rehman maintained that while he had no plan to meet Sharif or Bhutto Zardari, if anyone was interested in meeting him, he would not be opposed to it. “But they will have to explain the purpose of such a meeting in advance,” the JUI-F chief said. Speaking about the passage of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Bill, Rehman disclosed that opposition members had voted for it, against the advice of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who had asked them to take a unified stand on the government bills and avoid taking part in voting. The JUI-F chief said that the night before the sitting of parliament, he was in constant contact with Nawaz Sharif in London who, despite his frail health, assured him that he would speak to the relevant leadership about the legislation. Rehman revealed that the former prime minister had called him again in the early hours and assured him that the opposition would not cast their vote, and in case the decision was altered, all the opposition leaders will sit across the table and take a unanimous decision after considering all the pros and cons. Expressing surprise, Rehman said that instead of what was agreed upon, the PML-N and the PPP opted to vote without first consulting the JUI-F. “I don’t know if the decision was taken with the consent of Nawaz Sharif, or it was a mutiny on the part of the leaders in Pakistan,” he said. He added that Nawaz Sharif had also asked for a meeting of opposition leaders soon after the Eid, but the ambience for such a meeting has now been made uncomplimentary by the leaders here. Rehman said that the opposition had not risen to the occasion and failed to deliver to the masses. “People are waiting for the opposition to come out to rescue them and rid them of the filthily-corrupt rulers. Unfortunately, the opposition does not show reluctance to help the government sustain whenever it needs. “The opposition leaders are not living up to their expectations, and disappointing them on one occasion after another, but the JUI and its like-minded parties would not let the people down, and continue to stand in the arena for them.” Rehman, who chaired the meeting of JUI-F and like-minded leaders in Dera before the interview, said that the party had not slowed down its campaign to drive out the incumbent government. He added that if other parties are interested to join, they would be welcomed.  “We are in a constant struggle against the government,” Rehman said. The JUI-F chief recalled that he had gone to Karachi where he had a good meeting with PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bhutto Zardari, and later travelled to Lahore to meet Shehbaz Sharif. The politicians also met each other and announced taking on the government, but that same week, they opted to vote in support of the government’s legislation. Rehman said that the government is “enjoying the situation like anything”, since it gets to “humiliate” the opposition whenever it chooses to, and whenever the Centre needs, the opposition votes according to the will of the government.

At least 13 people are dead after heavy monsoon rains and flooding wreaked havoc in several parts of Pakistan, officials said yesterday. Persistent rain flooded dozens of villages in the southern province of Sindh and the southwestern province of Baluchistan during the last three days. At least seven people were killed in Karachi, the country’s most populous city. Additionally, six people lost their lives in Baluchistan in the last 24 hours, officials said. Hundreds of people were displaced by flooding in both the provinces. Rescue workers were busy shifting people to safer places. The military said yesterday that it had rescued more than 100 people from Dadu district in Sindh. “More than a dozen people are still missing in Baluchistan,” Younus Aziz Mengal, a spokesperson for the provincial disaster management authority said. He said that the flooding had damaged bridges and highways, cutting off Gawadar, a port city on the Arabian Sea. The Baluchistan government has declared emergency in all hospitals of the province. Parliamentary Secretary Health Dr Rubbaba Khan Buledi has directed all the concerned health officers to ensure their presence in districts to ensure close co-ordination with administration. She said that Balcohistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan is himself monitoring the situation. Pakistan’s Met office predicted 20% more rain and urban flooding this monsoon season and asked authorities to take precautionary measures. Flash floods, land erosion, cloudbursts, droughts and smog resulting in low air quality have been on the rise in Pakistan in recent years. Climate experts say it is the impact of global warming, but also due to the country’s proximity to highly industrialised China and India.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and discussed the importance of US-Pakistan co-operation on the Afghan peace process. The conversation between Pompeo and Qureshi came at a time when the Afghan government and Taliban are preparing for a US-facilitated peace talks which will be held in Doha in coming months. In a tweet, Pompeo said: “Productive call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today about continued co-operation on Afghan peace and the importance of supporting regional stability.” He stated: “I look forward to advancing our shared goals and increasing partnership.” Pakistani leaders have expressed support and hope for Afghan peace process. Earlier on April 12, Taliban released 20 prisoners of the Afghan government, who were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Kandahar. The Afghan government has so far released more than 300 Taliban prisoners. As per the US-Taliban peace deal signed on February 29, 2020, the Afghan government would release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the armed group would free 1,000 Afghan prisoners of the Kabul administration prior to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.

Of the total number of people infected with the coronavirus in Pakistan so far, 75.9% are under the age of 50 years, according to official records of cases since the first onslaught of the virus on February 25. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. The records revealed that among women, those from the age group of 21-30 years were most affected, with 20,449 women from this group infected till the time the data was compiled. Around 77 medical staffers lost their lives to Covid-19 while fighting coronavirus, as well as 53 doctors, revealed the documents. A medical student, two nurses and 20 paramedical staff have also succumbed to the disease. The documents also mentioned other aspects of the government’s measures to curb the disease and educate the masses on preventive measures. They stated that the Centre provided Rs25bn to provincial and federal health sectors in Pakistan, while private hospitals were lent loans with the facility of a low 3% markup rate. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was given Rs25.3bn by the federal government in the fight against the pandemic. The federal cabinet also approved a Rs1mn “Shaheed Package” for those who died of the disease in the line of duty. As for awareness campaigns, the documents revealed that around 10 types of awareness messages were spread among 80.5mn people. It said that 80 posts for public awareness were made on social media platforms from official accounts, which were viewed by 40mn people. The 1166 helpline for the coronavirus pandemic received around 5mn calls, with 30,000 calls daily. The documents said printed material raising awareness about the coronavirus and mentioning preventative measures was distributed among 800,000 people across the country. Earlier, the official mortality data released by Edhi Foundation for coronavirus deaths in Karachi in June had revealed that about 72.5% of the deceased were men, whereas 27.06% were women. The findings are based on data collected between June 1 and June 27. Among the males to have fallen prey to Covid-19, data showed that the vast majority of deaths (85.5%) occurred in men aged between 45 and 84 years.

Pakistan has set in motion a plan to boost the share of its electric power that comes from renewables to 30% by 2030, up from about 4% today, government officials said. “The targets in the newly-announced policy are a 20% share of renewables in installed capacity of Pakistan’s power mix by 2025 and 30% by 2030,” said Syed Aqeel Hussain Jafry, policy director for the government’s Alternative Energy Development Board. That will include mainly wind and solar power, but also geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass energy, he said. With boosts in hydropower capacity expected as well, the shift could bring the share of clean energy in Pakistan’s electricity mix to 65% by 2030, said Nadeem Babar, head of a task force on energy reforms in Pakistan. However, the legislation leaves in place plans to build seven more coal-fired power plants as part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project – something that could impede scale-up of renewable power, warned Zeeshan Ashfaq, a solar and wind energy developer in Pakistan. “A coal pipeline of around 4,000-5,000MW will not provide much space for renewables,” said Ashfaq, managing director of SOWITEC (Solar Wind Technology) Pakistan. The new national renewables policy, approved by the prime minister’s cabinet last December, was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and as negotiators tried to resolve disputes with individual provinces. But Asad Umar, federal minister for planning and development, said on social media that the resolution of those disputes now opened the way to “unleash Pakistan’s full potential” for renewables. New investment in renewable energy is expected to come from private investors, with potential suppliers bidding in annual auctions and low-tariff proposals winning, said Babar, chair of the energy task force and now special assistant to the prime minister. Jafry, of the alternative energy board, said the policy represented a significant shift from the past, when investors approached the government with individual projects. Ashfaq, the renewables developer, said the current government had shown more interest in renewable energy than previous administrations. “The last government’s focus was on investing in fossil fuel power plants. This new government is much more open to renewable energy and wants to promote it” he said. Babar said most of the new planned renewable power would be solar or wind, divided roughly equally between the two technologies, and coming from everything from wind farms to rooftop solar. “We already have more than 30 wind and solar plants in operation, all financed privately by local and international banks, multilaterals and export credit agencies. New ones will be financed the same way,” he said. The new renewables plan represents “an ambitious target but achievable”, he said. International investors could put as much as $15bn into the plan by 2030, Ashfaq predicted – though he cautioned that renewables investment would depend on clear government targets for its use, and growing demand for power as the country industrialises. Growth in power demand has slowed over the past two years, with Pakistan’s economy struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, he said. One big potential roadblock to scaling renewables is the focus of the CPEC project on building new coal-fired power plants, Ashfaq said. “Nearly 70% of generation capacity of CPEC power projects is coal-fired. With CPEC coal-power projects, coal-fired generation capacity will increase from 3% in 2017 to 20% in 2025,” he said. Achieving the country’s renewable energy aims will require rethinking those plans, he said. But Babar said “pre-authorised fossil fuel projects under CPEC will continue execution – they will go into construction”. That suggests Pakistan will continue with plans to build all seven new CPEC coal-fired power plants by 2024. Jafry, of the alternative energy board, however, said he believed the new renewables policy was “achievable and realistic”, as it was linked to forecasts of Pakistan’s energy demand through 2047.

Prime Minister Iman Khan has launched a $3bn “Mega Ravi Urban Development Project”, terming it vital to save the historical city of Lahore from environmental challenges caused by unplanned settlements, besides an aim to earn revenue to pay back the country’s loans and create millions of jobs. “This project is meant to revive the lost glory of Lahore, a city struggling to cope with the problems of pollution, sewerage and water shortage,” he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony. Earlier, the prime minister tweeted that the “Ravi City” project will also bring in foreign exchange through overseas Pakistani investment in the project. He said it will create millions of jobs, as 40 industries are connected to housing and construction, and create wealth, enabling the country to pay off the national debt. Khan reiterated: “Today I felt great excitement in (performing) the stone-laying of Ravi City, one of the biggest mega projects we have launched in our history. “This will save Lahore by stopping spread of unplanned urban sprawl, raise the water table, and revive River Ravi, preventing it from becoming a sewerage drain.” The prime minister said that the project will develop the dying River Ravi into a perennial freshwater body, with high-quality waterfront urban development. The modern city will have all facilities for its residents, besides a forest area to be planted with 6mn trees, he added. Khan told those in attendance that work is also underway on the “Naya Pakistan Housing Project”, and that Pakistan was at a tipping point in terms of employment creation and development. The premier said the project would be the second largest planned city in Pakistan after Islamabad. Khan regretted that the River Ravi that once traversed the city, eventually became little more than a sewerage drain over the years. The prime minister lamented that Lahore witnessed the deterioration in all civic services due to irregular expansion of the city over the past decades. Khan said that the city is lagging behind modern cities in terms of civic services, including waste disposal, clean drinking water, electricity and gas, and communication. He pointed out that city residents are suffering from serious breathing problems as the pollution in Lahore had risen to an alarming level, also obstructing sunlight during winter time. The prime minister said that he hopes the new project would restore the water table of Lahore that had dropped by 800 feet in the last 15 years. He said clean water would be provided in the Ravi River through the construction of barrages and sewerage treatment plants along the river. Giving more details of the project, the prime minister said that the new city would have high-rise buildings to optimally utilise land space. It would be completed with the collaboration of private investors, he said. Khan invited overseas Pakistanis to benefit from the grand opportunity by investing in the project. “The people might invest in the construction sector till December 31, 2020, as Pakistan has been given relaxation on international obligations regarding the documentation of the informal economy,” he said. The prime minister said that the project would provide employment besides generating economic activity, as the construction sector was linked with 40 other industries. “It would also lead to wealth creation and help in poverty alleviation, besides providing more resources for health, education and debt servicing,” he said. Khan has termed the “Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project” as one of the mega projects in the country’s history.

A British Pakistani doctor who was assaulted at his child’s hospital bedside along with his wife, who is also a doctor, said that he decided to speak out to save others from the same discrimination and hate. Dr Rashid Abbasi, a graduate of Dow Medical College Karachi, and his wife, Dr Aliya Abbasi, said they were subjected to violence by the Northumbria police as they sat by their six-year-old daughter Zainab’s bedside at a hospital. Doctors at the hospital had wanted the couple to leave the room so Zainab’s life support could be switched off for her to die. The couple was speaking to media from their home in Country Durham, near the Scottish border. Footage widely publicised on British and international media this week, shows the Pakistani doctor being dragged away from his daughter’s bedside, handcuffed and beaten by four police officers – while the local hospital’s staff stood watching after calling the police to remove the couple from their daughter’s bedside. Abbasi said that his wife was assaulted first by the officers before they turned to him. Zainab had complex needs due to a rare degenerative condition, and doctors had told the couple that she had only a few hours left to live. She died a week after her parents were forcibly removed from the hospital last year. There were reporting restrictions in place on the incident, and the Abbasis had to fight a complex legal battle to be able to tell their story to the world and to obtain footage from the police. The National Health Service (NHS) hospital trust cannot be named for legal reasons, but said the decision to involve police was never taken lightly. Abbasi explained that Zainab suffered from Niemann-Pick Disease and the after-effects of swine flu, which she contracted when she was two. In 2018, she suffered from a flare-up of her lung condition after a viral infection. Doctors advised the couple that it would be “kind” to let her “go”, as she had no chances of surviving. However, Abbasi said that they advised the doctors on what treatment to give Zainab, and on both occasions, the child responded well, defying the doctors’ analysis. Last year, the Abbasis told the doctors not to take Zainab off the ventilator as she was doing fine and responding well to treatment. She was hospitalised in the summer of 2019 and was put on life support at the family’s local hospital, in the northeast of England. “Three days before the attack on us, Zainab watched three TV shows of her choice,” he said. “She was holding my hand and communicating all the time when she needed to. “She was communicating through hand movement and her eyes.” Abbasi and his wife, both senior surgeons at the NHS, had a meeting with doctors for about 25 minutes where they were told that she will be taken off the ventilator. Abbasi said that he knew the doctors had made up their mind that they will take Zainab off life support, which was why he chose to remain by her side. The doctors did not like that, he said, and they called the police “to come and remove us”. Within minutes, four officers from the Northumbria Police arrived while Abbasi was holding his daughter’s hand at her bedside, with Zainab’s mum and their couple’s teenage son seated nearby. The officers asked the parents to step away. Abbasi told the police that being an NHS doctor, he knew his rights and that the police had no legal grounds to remove him because he had done nothing wrong, and as well as being a parent, he had the right to be with his daughter. “I didn’t want to move from there, because I knew that they will take my daughter off life support. That’s exactly what they wanted to do,” he said. “The hospital staff lied to the police that I was being disruptive and aggressive. That’s not true. I was only standing up for my rights, for rights of my daughter.” The first officer pulled Aliya Abbasi to the floor after she asked them not to remove her husband. “I was told that I should not speak as it was not about me but my husband. I was pinned on a chair by two security guards. They didn’t respect my rights as a Muslim woman, as a woman, [and] as a member of the public,” she said. “They held me back with so much force that I was left with bruises on my arms, and I had to get medical treatment for the injury caused by the heavy-handed security team.” Aliya Abbasi said that she saw how her husband was pulled to the floor and manhandled by the police. “When I cried for help, they drew the curtain so I couldn’t see what the police were doing to him,” she said. “They drew the curtain while pinning me on the chair, by force, but I could hear screams of my husband as he was beaten by the police.” “The police abused my husband. I told to the police that he’s a heart patient, but they didn’t care and didn’t want to listen. They were ruthless in how they treated my husband.” While she was restrained, the officers physically restrained Abbasi, strapped his legs together and handcuffed him before wheeling him out of the area. Abbasi said he suffered a heart attack as the police continued to assault him. “I asked the police to let me take medicine, but they refused. I told them I am a heart patient but they didn’t listen. One police officer told me that that they will let me take medicine if I behaved well. “Even if I was a convicted criminal, I had right to medical treatment, but I was denied that right by the police.” Abbasi described the assault: “They used their knees and elbows to hit in my chest, lower abdomen, stomach and legs, out of the body cam area. “They made sure that they hit my knees and kicked me so that their hits are not captured on the camera. “But the camera [recording] of 11 minutes tells the whole story of how I was assaulted.” Abbasi was later released after the police realised that he has suffered a heart attack. Abbasi said: “We are still living the nightmare, I still wake up in the middle of the night feeling someone is pulling a tube from my daughter and tightening my handcuffs.” Christian Legal Aid has started to take legal action against the hospital trust. “We had the option of staying quiet, but we have decided to take a stand for our Zainab and for everyone else in this country,” Abbasi said. “No parent should go through what we have been made to suffer.” “No daughter of any parent should be denied her rights like our daughter was. We were brutalised by the police, but the main blame lies with the hospital staff for telling a bogus story to the police to act against us. “It’s the hospital staff that’s responsible for attack on us. We will not rest until justice [is given to us].” The NHS trust has said: “It is essential that we maintain a safe and secure environment for our patients and families. “Our staff always go to strenuous lengths to ensure that families’ wishes are respected, and that they are supported as they approach the end of their child’s life, and make all possible efforts to ensure this is peaceful and dignified.” “We responded to a call of a man being violent and abusive towards staff, and that he had assaulted a consultant,” said Northumbria Police. “While we recognised this was a very distressing time for him and his family, our duty was to ensure the safety of all those present. “We are in the process of reviewing a civil claim, so it would be inappropriate to comment any further,” added police.

An accountability court has issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a reference of a 34-year-old land allotment and transaction, also involving Jang group editor-in-chief Mir Shakilur Rehman. At the outset of the hearing, presiding judge Asad Ali asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution team about the absence of Rehman, who is on judicial remand. Special Prosecutor Haris Qureshi stated that the suspect was not brought to the court in the light of the government’s coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced for under-trial prisoners. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. The judge observed that it was the third hearing after the NAB filed its reference and the suspect, Rehman, was not produced before the court. Judge Ali directed the prosecutor to treat the case as a “special case” and ensure the appearance of the suspect at the next hearing. Meanwhile, the prosecutor submitted a report about non-service of court’s summons to Sharif at his Lahore address. The report said the suspect was in London. At this, the judge issued bailable warrants for the arrest of the former premier and adjourned the hearing till August 20. Earlier, two lawyers filed their powers of attorney on behalf of as many other suspects in the reference – former director-general of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Humayon Faiz Rasool and former director of land development department of the LDA, Mian Bashir Ahmad. The suspects were present in the court. The NAB in its reference alleged that Rehman illegally obtained exemption of 54 plots, each measuring one kanal, situated in Block-H, Johar Town. It alleged that the land allotment had been done in connivance with then-chief minister Nawaz Sharif against the exemption policy and the laws for monetary gains. It said the suspects allegedly caused a loss of Rs143.53mn to the national exchequer through allotment of the land in violation of exemption policy. In this case, the NAB had arrested Rehman while Sharif had been declared an absconder for his continuous non-appearance before the investigation team. Sharif had left for London for his treatment. The other two suspects were interrogated and not arrested by the NAB.

Thousands of people in Pakistan rallied in major cities yesterday to mark one year since neighbouring India scrapped the special status of the disputed region of Kashmir. Political leaders, trade unions, councils for lawyers and rights activists participated in the rallies to condemn what they called a “repressive Indian decision”. President Dr Arif Alvi and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi led the biggest rally in the capital Islamabad, where protesters chanted slogans and called on the global powers to intervene. India’s nationalist government had deployed more troops to the region before announcing on August 5, 2019 that it was ending the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim area in the Himalayan valley controlled in parts by New Delhi and Islamabad but claimed by both in its entirety. Pakistan rejected what it sees as an annexation of Kashmir by New Delhi, which opposes Islamabad’s position that the region’s fate should be decided through a UN-organised plebiscite. A referendum in Kashmir mandated by a UN resolution in 1948 has never taken place. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic relations with India, suspended a cross-border bus service and halted bilateral trade. “The Indian move in Kashmir is the worst rights violation,” Alvi said. Prime Minister Imran Khan meanwhile led a rally in the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and urged the world to intervene against the move that he said made 8mn Muslims in Kashmir prisoners in their own homes. Pakistan would continue to raise the issue of Kashmir at international platforms to push India take back the annexation decision, he said in a speech. Khan led a march through Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered-Kashmir, before addressing the region’s legislative assembly. Across the city, more than 2,000 people turned out at a series of protests. “We ask the world to give Kashmiris their right of self-determination, otherwise we will cross the Line of Control (LoC) and help our brothers on the other side with arms,”, Arslan Ahmad, a refugee who fled Indian-administered Kashmir, told AFP. “Half of my family is under siege in Indian-occupied Kashmir, my mother is dying to meet her sister, this dispute has left our generations torn apart,” 31-year-old Usman Mir added. Leaders of Pakistan-administered Kashmir condemned India for the security lockdown of the region by Indian forces to curb possible unrest provoked by the decision. “What India is doing in Kashmir is an insult to human dignity ... we urge the UN and the civilised world to help end the lockdown,” said Raja Farooq Haider, prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a new map showing entire region as part of the country and renamed a road in Islamabad Srinagar Highway, after the capital of the Indian Kashmir. Pakistan and India, nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. The Pakistan military, meanwhile, said Indian troops had fired a shell across the de-facto border, killing a young woman and wounding six other people. Such exchanges are common along the Kashmir demarcation line, with shells blasted in both directions.