Day: October 24, 2020

Gandapur urges world to take notice of Indian brutalities in IIOJ and K

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for right to self-determination.

In his message on the occasion of Foundation Day of Azad Kashmir, he said the world should take notice of Indian inhuman acts and brutalities in the occupied territory. He demanded imposition of sanctions on India.

The Minister said support for Kashmiris is swelling at the international level due to the efforts of the government. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is raising the voice of oppressed Kashmiri people as an advocate and ambassador of Kashmiris.

Paying tributes to the sacrifices of Kashmiri people, Ali Amin Gandapur said the Kashmiri youth are determined just like their ancestors to get their right to self-determination.

Govt to continue struggle against corrupt elements: Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said the government will not back down from its struggle against the corrupt elements.

In a tweet on Saturday, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan has awakened the nation against the corrupt gang. He said the PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz is full of anger and bewilderment.

He said these morally bankrupt and absconders cannot be the flag bearers of democracy and lead the nation.

Sindh Inter-Divisional Sepaktakraw Championship today

KARACHI: The ninth edition of Sindh Inter-Divisional Sepaktakraw Championship will be played today (Sunday) in Hyderabad.

According to Chairman Sindh Sepaktakraw Association Dr Muhammad Arif Hafeez all men and women teams of all six divisions would participate in the championship.

Geo News reporter Ali Imran gone missing: Family claims

KARACHI: A senior journalist, Ali Imran Syed, working for Geo News TV as a reporter, reportedly went missing on Friday evening. He had gone to a nearby bakery but did not return home, claims his family. .

According to a report on Geo News website, Ali Imran left home between 7pm-8pm and told the family that he would come back in half an hour but did not return despite the passage of many hours. His wife said that her husband’s car was parked outside the house and he had left his mobile phone at home.

The family said the police authorities were informed about Imran’s disappearance and an application has been submitted to Sachal police station. The report said that Geo News administration had informed Karachi police chief and DIG East about the disappearance of Imran.

As per the details from the police, the scene will be thoroughly inspected and CCTV footage will be obtained to probe further into the matter.

The Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab, on his Twitter handle, said that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the matter and the issue is being investigated.

Amnesty International stated on its Twitter handle that Imran was “feared to have been subjected to an enforced disappearance for his reporting”. “The authorities must establish his whereabouts immediately.”

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also Tweeted for Imran’s “immediate release”.

CPNE concerned over disappearance of Geo News reporter Ali Imran Syed

KARACHI: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) President Arif Nizami and Secretary General Dr. Jabbar Khattak have expressed deep concern over the disappearance of Geo News reporter Ali Imran Syed and said that the lives and property of the citizens were at stake.

Protection is the first duty of the state. The disappearances of journalists and media workers are considered an attack on freedom of the press, freedom of expression and media freedom. Disappearances of citizens, especially journalists, have raised many questions about civil liberties in Pakistan.

CPNE leaders have urged the federal government, state agencies and the Sindh government to rescue Ali Imran Syed immediately and take concrete steps to protect journalists.

Serious efforts needed to curb human trafficking: Zia Awan

Karachi: Noted human rights attorney and head of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid Zia Ahmed Awan here Saturday said that serious efforts are needed to stop the menace of human trafficking.

In a statement he said there are many victims of human trafficking who are suffering silently, as these modern day salves have no access to seek justice.

Referring to the verdict of Islamabad High Court in the case of an Azeri citizen Jameela Zamanova, he said it is a welcome decision as this victim of human trafficking is allowed to be repatriated to her country Azerbaijan.

Zia Awan who fought this case said that the IHC has already ordered the interior ministry to repatriate the victim girl of human trafficking Jameela to her country Azerbaijan till November 6. He told that Justice Mohsin Akher Kiyani conducted the hearing on the case filed by the victim girl Jameela who was brought Pakistan through human trafficking. Edhi Foundation head Faisal Edhi also appeared before the court. Edhi Foundation would bear the travelling expenses of Jameela, he said.

Six Cricket Associations begin their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign from Sunday

KARACHI: After an action-packed National T20 Cup in Multan and Rawalpindi, the focus shifts to Karachi as Pakistan’s largest city gears up to host the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from 25 October.

The first three rounds will be played across three venues – National Stadium, NBP Sports Complex and UBL Sports Complex – before the tournament takes an 11-day break during which the play-offs of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, which had to be postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, will be staged. Besides the three venues, State Bank Stadium will also host six matches of the 31-match tournament.

The six team captains were taken to a photo-shoot with the prestigious tournament trophy at the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum (Mazar-e-Quaid) on Friday. The players travelled in a sterilised bus and maintained social distancing at the location while fully following the existing Covid-19 SOPs and protocols during the shoot.

With the Pakistan’s men’s national team and Pakistan Shaheens scheduled to travel to New Zealand on 23 November, the first three rounds serve as an audition for the first-class cricketers to stake a claim in the red-ball side on the back of impressive performances.

In line with the PCB’s vision of incentivising top-performers, more than PKR17million are up for grabs over the course of the 31-match tournament with the winning prize money PKR10million and the runner-up bagging PKR5million.

The top-performers – player of the tournament, best batsman, best bowler and best wicketkeeper – will pocket PKR500,000 each. The player of the final will be awarded PKR50,000.

Defending champions Central Punjab will begin their campaign from the National Stadium as they take on hosts Sindh in a match which will be televised live on PTV Sports and relayed all over the world by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official YouTube channel.

With Babar Azam leading Pakistan in the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches and as many T20Is, Azhar Ali will take charge of the defending champions Central Punjab side, which includes seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who finished as the second highest run-getter in the last edition of the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 906 runs at 60.40.

Azhar will also have services of Test off-spinner Bilal Asif, who with 43 wickets from nine matches finished as the second highest wicket-taker in the 2019-20 edition. The side is further strengthened by the returns of Ahmed Shehzad, who captained Central Punjab last year with Babar on national duty, and pacer Hasan Ali.

After Salman Butt withdrew himself from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Ali Zaryab has been promoted to Central Punjab’s first XI team.

Central Punjab captain Azhar Ali: “As defending champions we aim to play with attacking mindset and strategy as it won us the trophy last year. We have some exciting youngsters and have retained the core of the side and I am really looking forward to the tournament.

“With only six teams in the fray, the competition is going to be stiff and that augurs well for the tournament as the standard will be of the highest quality with all the teams capable of winning the event.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed, the former Pakistan Test captain, will be eager to ensure that his team lives up to its potential as they were one of the two teams, other being Balochistan, who failed to register a win last season. They will be banking on Fawad Alam, who was Sindh’s best batsman last year with 781 runs (four centuries and two half-centuries) to provide stability to their batting order which also boasts Test batsman Asad Shafiq and impressive youngsters like Saud Shakeel and Omair Bin Yousaf.

Tabish Khan will spearhead Sindh’s bowling attack in which Mohammad Asghar will lead the spin department.

The left-arm orthodox had the fourth most wickets with 27 scalps in eight matches for Balochistan last year. Tabish took 25 wickets in the previous season, his new-ball partner Sohail Khan is not available for the opening clash due to a throat infection but is expected to join the team in the later rounds.

Sindh captain Sarfaraz Ahmed: “Last year we were not able to win any matches despite coming close and dominating the matches most of the days. This year we have once again fielded an experienced squad with some exciting youngsters.

“Our aim would be to push for wins and keep ourselves in the contention of a final spot. I think we should have an exciting event which should keep the fans and followers engaged.”