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Jibran Nasir 'returns home' after going 'missing' for almost 22 hours
Jibran Nasir 'returns home' after going 'missing' for almost 22 hours
KARACHI: Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir returned back to his home almost 22 hours after he reportedly got "kidnapped", Geo News reported Friday.
A team of Karachi police met with Advocate Nasir after his return.
Confirming his return, Nasir took to Twitter to thank his “friends, colleagues especially journalists, lawyers, bar councils, civil society and politicians” for their efforts.
“I will continue to keep struggling for the great cause that I am fighting for the reason for which you stood by with me and my family,” he added.
A day earlier, Nasir's wife — Mansha Pasha — had stated that armed individuals forcefully took her husband away from Karachi's Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area.
In a video statement shared on social media, Pasha said that the incident occurred when they were on their way back home after having dinner late Thursday night.
A visibly shaken Pasha recounted: “Around half an hour ago, my husband Jibran Nasir, who is a renowned lawyer and has done much for the country, was abducted by some people.”
She said their car was intercepted by approximately 15 armed men travelling in a white double-cabin vehicle.
“We were returning [home] from dinner, when a big white car intercepted us, almost causing us to crash. There were some 15 people, armed with pistols. They forcefully took away my husband.”
Case registered
On Friday morning, Karachi police registered a "kidnapping" case of the lawyer on the Pasha's complaint.
The case was registered at the Clifton Police Station of the port city under two sections of the Pakistan Penal Code — 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Police were at first, according to Pasha, not registering the FIR. She said she would move the court if the law enforcers did not register the case.
In her application, she also requested immediate action be taken to ensure his swift release.
The whisking away of the activist was widely condemned by people from all walks of life. A protest was also held in Karachi outside the press club for the Nasir's release.
Protest held in Karachi
Earlier in the day, a protest was also held at the Karachi Press Club against the "abduction" of the lawyer.
A number of people from different professions including Nasir's family participated in the demonstration, demanding the lawyer's safe release.
While the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) condemned Nisar's "kidnapping" and demanded an immediate release of all arrested lawyers.
The Sindh Bar Council (SBC) also condemned Nasir's abduction and urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of the matter.
After seven-year hiatus, top court to take up JI plea on Panama Papers
After seven-year hiatus, top court to take up JI plea on Panama Papers
JI Ameer Sirajul Haq's plea, which was filed in 2016, will be heard by a two-member bench next week
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Sirajul Haq's plea seeking an investigation against all the Pakistanis named in the infamous Panama Papers next week.
A bench comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan will hear the case — filed in August 2016 — on June 9.
The JI emir had asked the court to investigate all the 436 Pakistanis whose names are mentioned in the Panama Papers.
In April 2016, some 200, and later on 400 more people, were figured in the Panama Papers. They included businessmen and politicians from Pakistan, including the members of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s family accused of setting up offshore companies in the tax havens.
Notices have been issued to Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and others made a party in the petition.
In its petition, the JI has prayed to the top court to direct the federation to initiate an inquiry into the Panama Leaks under Article 184(3) of the Constitution without mentioning the name of any politician or businessman, alleged to be involved in establishing offshore companies.
According to the plea submitted by Haq, "A large number of persons, many of them holders of public offices, were also allegedly involved in the commission of said offences and had not mentioned in the details of their assets about their investments through offshore companies, so all such holders of public offices were liable to be disqualified from their offices and also be punished accordingly."
Instead of making any politician or businessman respondent, the petitioner chose to make the Federation of Pakistan, Ministry of Law, Ministry of Finance, Cabinet Division, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) through its chairman as respondents.
The petitioner recalled that despite the fact that the apex court on May 16, 2016, demanded a list of owners of the said offshore companies and the details of individuals, families, groups, companies etc, which were required by the “Commission of Inquiry”, but the respondent (the government) deliberately did not provide the list.
“It is regretted that the respondents are deliberately delaying and avoiding any proceedings of inquiry into the alleged corruption leaks... resulting in failure of recovery of public money from abroad and hence the country is facing serious financial hardships,” the plea further stated.
"It seems that the respondent NAB is not initiating any action or inquiry/investigation under the provisions of NAO, 1999, despite the fact that eradication of corruption is the sole purpose of the NAB."
Since April 2016, NAB has not taken cognisance of the matter, whereas u/s 18 of the NAO, 1999, respondent No 5 has the authority to take suo moto action against all matters of corruption and corrupt practices committed, according to the petition.
"There had allegedly been matters of corruption and corrupt practices of the magnitude of trillions of Pak rupees of public money, but NAB has not initiated action/inquiry even in a single case as narrated in the media."
The petition says that corruption and corrupt practices have allegedly been committed by owners of the said “off-shore companies”, who are holders of public offices in Pakistan and are in opposition parties.
It further contended that the owners of the offshore companies had illegally, without bringing into the knowledge of the state, transferred and invested public money from Pakistan abroad, to establish their “Offshore Companies” on the basis of illegal and corrupt money.
Public money has been allegedly usurped through corruption, corrupt practices and kickbacks, the petition asserts and adds that therefore, the matter in hand requires emergent indulgence of this august court, Siarj-ul Haq had submitted.
It also contends that immediate arrest of the culprits and stern action to recover and bring the money back to the country would be in the general interest of the public prosperity and progress of the people of Pakistan.
The petitioner in the plea has prayed to the apex court that in view of these submissions, the respondents be directed to initiate inquiry/investigation followed by trial proceedings under the laws of Pakistan and resultantly a direction be issued to them to arrest the culprits and to recover and bring the public money back to Pakistan, which was illegally transferred from Pakistan to some other country.
PTI’s Parvez Elahi re-arrested shortly after being released in Lahore
PTI’s Parvez Elahi re-arrested shortly after being released in Lahore
"I am innocent and a supporter of Pakistan Army," says Elahi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi was re-arrested in another corruption case shortly after being discharged in Rs70 million embezzlement case by a local court in Lahore on Friday.
The police took the former Punjab chief minister into custody from Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) headquarter.
Earlier, Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk discharged the PTI leader in Rs70 million corruption case related to the embezzlement of development funds allocated for the Gujrat district and ordered to release him if he was not wanted in any other case.
Earlier, the PTI president vowed to stand with his party as he was presented before an anti-corruption court Friday after his dramatic arrest a day earlier.
Elahi was arrested by Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in relation to a case involving Rs70 million corruption related to the embezzlement of development funds allocated for the Gujrat district — in which his bail was rejected.
Various corruption cases have been registered against the former Punjab chief minister, who is accused of receiving kickbacks for awarding several government development projects during his tenure.
Elahi — while speaking to reporters before his hearing — said: "I am innocent and a supporter of Pakistan Army."
In his message to party workers and supporters, the former CM urged the them to stay strong.
While exclusively speaking to Geo News, Elahi (without naming anybody) took a jibe at the former party leaders who announced their decision to part ways with Imran Khan, saying that he won’t hold any press conference.
Blaming Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Elahi recalled that he did not make any political case against anyone but “Naqvi has metted out injustice with me.”
Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza reserved the verdict after hearing the former Punjab chief minister’s case, where the ACE requested the court for his 14-day physical remand.
During the hearing, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Rana Intizar informed the court that all documents related to the projects are available.
“Anti-corruption watchdog is introducing its own law under which the judge hearing the cases will be of their choice,” the council said, adding that on January 17, 2023 a payment worth Rs360 million was made when Naqvi was the chief minister.
According to details, two cases were registered in Gujranwala against him on the charges of receiving kickbacks in awarding contracts while one case has been lodged in Lahore against the former chief minister.
Earlier, a special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former Punjab CM, ordering authorities to produce him by June 2. Two arrest warrants have been issued for the PTI leader. The first one was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail while the second one on May 26. An anti-corruption team earlier had also reached his residence for arrest. However, he could not be arrested.
The Punjab Police and Elite Force had cordoned off the locality around Elahi’s residence, banning exit and entry points to the house.
In April, the ACE Gujranwala filed a case against the PTI president citing a report based on sources, in which the former Punjab CM was accused of taking a Rs2 billion bribe for the contract of a development scheme.
In another case, an FIR No 6/23 was registered against Elahi for taking a bribe of Rs120 million from an international organisation — a Turkish company.
The anti-corruption court judge also declared Elahi’s medical certificate as bogus which claimed that he had been experiencing chest pain.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Justice Faez Isa brushes aside rumours about division in top judiciary
Justice Faez Isa brushes aside rumorss aboutthe divivision the top judiciary
"Garnishing facts to create a controversial narrative is damaging to the institution,” says SC senior puisne judge
Imran levelling baseless allegations to divert attention from May 9 events: PM
"PTI chief making allegations of "rights abuses" just to distract attention from tragic events of May 9," says Premier Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Imran Khan Niazi could go to any extreme to defame the law enforcement agencies and to distract attention from his culpability in the tragic events of May 09.
“Make no mistake about the evil intent behind Imran Niazi’s latest ploy to defame our law enforcement agencies and police. Yet again, he is making misleading and baseless allegations of the rights abuses just to distract attention for his culpability in the tragic events of May 9,” the prime minister on Twitter said, adding that he was not surprised by Imran’s antics.
Shehbaz said that someone who could persistently use foul language against the state institutions, incite people to violence and attack the state symbols and military installations, and bring down martyrs’ monuments, was capable of going to any extreme. The prime minister said that Imran Niazi presided over a disinformation apparatus that deployed fake news methodically to fool the people. “Everything about him is hate, division and lie,” he said.
Meanwhile, the prime minister Thursday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman to completely stop the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco products.
While talking to a delegation of Pakistan Tobacco Company here, the PM said steps should be taken on an emergency basis against the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco products. He also ordered the installation of a track and trace system in all the cigarette factories in the country by July 15. He said the smuggling of cigarettes should be stopped, adding nobody would be allowed to cause loss to the national exchequer. He said strict action should be taken against those involved in selling of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco or those products on which taxes were evaded.
Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the PM Ahad Cheema, FBR chairman and high-ranking officials attended the meeting. Also, the prime minister Thursday said Pakistan considered Japan as an important partner for its progress and prosperity and Japanese companies should avail the immense opportunities for investment in Pakistan.
The PM was speaking to President Toyota Asia Yoshiki Konishi and Chief Executive Officer of Indus Motors Ali Asghar Jamali who called on him here.
Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mitsuhiro Wada, Vice Chairman Toyota Indus Motors Shinji Yanagi, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Murtaza Mehmood, Adviser to PM Ahad Cheema, Special Assistants to PM Jehanzeb Khan and Tariq Bajwa and high-ranking officials attended the meeting. In a briefing, the prime minister was told that Toyota Indus Motors for the first time established a unit for the production of hybrid vehicles in Pakistan with an investment of $100 million.
PM Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the project of Toyota to produce hybrid vehicles in Pakistan. The Japanese ambassador said leading Japanese companies were desirous of further investment in Pakistan. During the briefing, the PM was told that in the current year from July, Toyota Indus Motors would start export of spare parts of vehicles and these exports would make Pakistan a part of the global supply chain.
The prime minister said exports of spare parts should be enhanced by taking benefit of the capacity of engineering sector in the country. He said it should be ensured that the spare parts for the vehicles to be sold in Pakistan should be manufactured locally. The participants of the meeting lauded the prime minister for his government’s business-friendly policies.
On the other hand, the Foreign Office said Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on June 3. The prime minister is paying the visit at the invitation of President Erdogan, who was re-elected to his office on May 28. “The prime minister’s visit will be a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly press briefing.
The FO spokesperson said the prime minister would convey warm felicitations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to President Erdogan. The prime minister would also extend an invitation to President Erdogan to attend the 7th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in Islamabad, she said.Baloch said Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will undertake official visits to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium from June 5-13. “The MoS will hold meetings at the ministerial level to discuss political engagement and cooperation in development, trade and climate change,” she said.
Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday here separately held meetings with members of National Assembly, including Ali Musa Gilani, Riazul Haq and Khalid Javed Warraich.During the meetings, the legislators discussed with the prime minister problems related to their constituencies, development projects and the political situation in the country.Special Assistant to the prime minister Attaullah Tarar was present in the meeting.
Saturday, April 1, 2023
The LGBT Couples Of The Entertainment Industry
The LGBT Couples Of The Entertainment Industry
The LGBT Couples Of The Entertainment Industry
Published on 02/16/2020
Elton John & David Furnish
David Furnish and Elton John are a couple that needs zero introduction. They entered a civil partnership in 2004, but officially got married in 2014 when gay marriage was finally legalized.