Former CJP Saeeduz Zaman’s wife escapes gun attack

ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui’s wife on Saturday narrowly escaped when unidentified gunmen opened fire at her vehicle in Rawalpindi, ARY News reported.

According to the details, former CJP Saeeduz Zaman’s wife was travelling in her vehicle when unidentified armed men ambushed at her in Rawalpindi. No causality was reported in the firing incident.

Police confirmed ARY News, that the former CJP’s wife escaped in a gun attack, which took place in judicial colony.

Whereas, Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui’s son submitted a written application in police station Murree Chock Trait about the incident. He said in the application that the accused also held her mother among three in illegal confinement.

The police gathered bullet casings and other evidences from the spot and launched investigations into the incident.

Civil judge survives murder attempt in Rawalpindi

It is pertinent to mention here that police, on Saturday, arrested three accused allegedly involved in an attempt to kill a civil judge of Islamabad in Rawalpindi.

As per details, unidentified armed men opened fire at the vehicle of Civil Judge Suleman Badar near Rawalpindi’s Chakri Interchange.

The judge was travelling along with his family to Islamabad from Lahore, when his car was ambushed at Chakri Interchange. No casualties were reported in the firing incident, said local police.

Soon after the attack, the police conducted search operation for the arrest of attackers in Trinol area and took three suspects into custody.

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Pakistan condemns ‘farcical’ Indian charge sheet against Asiya Andrabi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the “farcical” Indian charge sheet against Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in a twitter statement said continuing Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self determination as terrorism have failed miserably.

He said continuing Indian incarceration of Kashmiri leaders on baseless charges violated the human rights charter & made a mockery of Indian claims of being a “democracy” as Asiya Andrabi is incarcerated while Syed Geelani was released from house arrest after 8 years.

“India needs to accept the reality of its failure to try to label every Kashmiri, from women to old men and children, as a “militant/terrorist”. We call upon the Int. Comm to expedite establishment of COI as recommended in OHCHR and #APPKG reports,” he said.

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Govt not considering any proposal to accept Israel, president tells ulema

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday once again clarified that the government is not considering any proposal to accept Israel. 

He met a delegation of ulema from different schools of thoughts at the Governor House Lahore. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was also present during the meeting.

President Alvi stressed the need to highlight true essence of Islam while projecting Islam’s inherited positive, polite and peaceful aspects. He reiterated the government’s resolve to protect Namoos e Risalat.

He said the government will consult ulema to play their effective role so that Tahafuz e Namoos e Risalat and Blasphemy Laws are not misused. Ulemas should fully cooperate with the government to ensure that sacred notions are not misused to create conflicts, aggression and destruction of peace in the country, he added.

The president said the government is not considering any change in the Blasphemy Law (clause 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code).

Alama Ayub Safdar assured on behalf of the ulema’s delegation that ulema will extend all possible help to ensure peace in the country and will cooperate effectively to make Pakistan a welfare Islamic state.

The president said that the government is not considering any proposal to accept Israel. He further said that the process of registration of Mosques and madaras will be smoothened and facilitated as per laws so that registration process gets completed soon.

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SC orders immediate revival of Karachi Circular Railway

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to immediately revive the Karachi Circular Railway. 

The direction came during a meeting chaired by Justice Gulzar Ahmed at the apex court’s Karachi registry. He directed the civic authorities to clear all railway tracks across the city of encroachments.

The Deputy Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways informed that railway tracks in various areas of the city have been encroached upon. The top court judge directed the deputy commissioners to remove encroachments from the railway tracks.

Meanwhile, the court also ordered the revival of a tram service in the city. A tram service be launched on the route between the old city areas and Saddar to promote tourism, said Justice Gulzar.

According to sources, the municipal authorities in coordination with railway officers would determine a route for the Karachi Circular Railway.

The apex court directed the authorities to pull down shops built under the FTC flyover and remove all sorts of encroachments along Shahrah-e-Faisal and Rashid Minhas Road.

It also directed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and all cantonment boards to raze illegal constructions within their jurisdictions.

In Sept, this year, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah sought the assistance of Chinese authorities in the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway and other mega projects.

The chief minister, while speaking to Chinese Consul General Mr Wang Yu, said that projects such as the Karachi Circular Railway, Dhabeji Economic Zone and Keti Bandar left incomplete at the conclusion of his last tenure as chief minister were being continued.

CM Sindh said that the KCR project was most important for Karachi. “It was included in the CPEC and then delayed due to some reasons but now time has come to take it up once again,” he said.

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Two women MPAs fined for traffic violation in KP

PESHAWAR: Two women legislators of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were fined for traffic violation in Peshawar on Saturday.   

According to the details, traffic police ticketed MPA Falik Naz and her friend, when they were travelling in a car without wearing seat belts on Ring Road.

Despite showing their identity, the dutiful police officer issued challan worth Rs200 to them. The car was being driven by one of the MPAs husband and he also did not wear the seat belt at that time.

Police have challaned at least 50  parliamentarians on Ring Road so far, said an official.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique had been fined, on August 19, for over-speeding on the motorway.

The former federal minister for railways was stopped by the Motorway Police at the Rawal Toll Plaza near Lahore. The PML-N leader was driving at a speed of 145km/h while the prescribed speed limit is 120km/h on motorway.

Rafique was en route to the session of the Punjab Assembly in Lahore and had to pay the Rs750 fine for the traffic offence.

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Zulfi Bukhari announces to increase EOBI pensions by Rs1250

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari alias Zulfi Bukhari on Saturday announced to increase the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) pensions by Rs1250.

He said the EOBI pensioners who have been receiving a minimum pension of Rs5250 will now get Rs6,500. He vowed to increase the minimum EOBI pension up to Rs10,000.

Mr Bukhari said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision is to turn Pakistan into a welfare state, adding that the portfolio he holds was a “kitchen” in the past where people would come, eat and go home.

He said the state institutions are working despite rampant corruption in the country.

Mr Bukhari said he would turn the EOBI into a profitable organization with his experience.

A day ealier, the Supreme Court sought a detailed report from the government on Zulfi Bukhari’s appointment as the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development.

In September, the prime minister had appointed Zulfi Bukhari as his special assistant.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar remarked during the hearing that making appointments to key posts was a crucial national duty and that such issues should be run as per national interests and not on the basis of friendships.

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